[Testosterone metabolism in the skin of women with hirsutism]

A study was made of the endogenous testosterone (T) level in the blood plasma, the rate of T decomposition and the level of 5 alpha-dehydrotestosterone in the pubic skin of women with hirsutism of different genesis. As to T amounts the investigated form of androgenization can be placed in the following sequence: diencephalic form of ovarian polycystosis greater than congenital adrenogenital syndrome greater than ovarian form of polycystosis (before operation) greater than idiopathic form of hirsutism greater than ovarian form of polycystosis (after operation) greater than healthy women. The rate of T transformation into 5 alpha-dehydrotesosterone was higher but in patients with the idiopathic form of hirsutism whereas the level of 5 alpha-dehydrotestosterone was significantly decreased in all the patients. The highest amount of the metabolite was found in the patients with idiopathic hirsutism, the lowest in the diencephalic form of polycystosis and congenital adrenogenital syndrome. In all the investigated clinical forms of androgenization there is a reduced period of the presence of 5 alpha-dehydrotestosterone in the skin cells. An enhanced process of 5 alpha-dehydrotestosterone transformation into androstenediols is likely to be the most probable cause of this phenomenon. An assumption has been made as to a stimulating effect of androstenediols on the virile pattern hair growth in women.