Characterization and hormonal control of the androgen receptor in the hamster sebaceous glands

The costovertebral organs [CVO] and seminel vesicles [SV] of the hamster exhibit high saturable androgen uptake. The physicochemcal characteristics of the cytoplasmic androgen receptor present in these tissues have been determined and compared to those obtained in rat prostate[P]. Using the synthetic androgen R 1881 [methyltrienolone] as a radioactive ligand, it has been shown that the affinity of this compound for the cytosol CVO receptor [Kd = 0.7 +/- 0.1 nM] is similar to that for the crytosol SV receptor [Kd = 2.4 +/- 0.9 nm] in hamsters and the cytosol P receptor [Kd = 0.6 +/- 0.1 nM] in rats. The hormonal specificity of binding in these tissues is restricted to androgens. Moreover, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone have the same relative binding affinity in CVO and SV compared to R 1881. Following castration, the total number of androgen sites, as measured by an exchange assay with R 1881, decreases rapidly and parallels with a fall in lipogenic activity. Administration of an androgen rapidly restores binding capacity.