Evaluation of androgen action on fibroblast growth by flow cytometry

The action of androgen (dihydrotestosterone-DHT-) on fibroblast growth was evaluated by 3H thymidine incorporation in DNA, by DNA assay using 3-5 diaminobenzoic acid fixation, and by a more sophisticated technique: flow cytometry. Cell DNA and proteins were stained with propidium iodide and fluorescein isothyocyanate, respectively. We did not observe any detectable DNA variation when fibroblats were incubated in the presence of DHT. Moreover, DHT did not modify DNA and protein distribution, either in the total cell cycle or in each phase of the cell cycle. These results suggest that androgens do not induce total protein synthesis nor increase DNA in target cells. It is likely that they induce specific protein synthesis.