Testosterone and cellular response

With the possible exception of male germ cells, the androgen responsiveness of all the target cell types in the mammalian body appears to be mediated by a single species of nuclear-cytosol androgen-receptor protein which is apparently specified by the X-linked Tfm locus. Although this receptor has the highest binding affinity to DHT, it can in the absence of DHT function with TES, albeit less efficiently. For the testosterone-dependent differentiation of embryonic organs, the androgen responsiveness of underlying mesenchymal cells appears to be more important than that of epithelial elements. Some of the androgen effects on apparent target cell types are through the indirect route involving the hypothalamopituitary axis.