Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – The devil in the wood pile.

Dihydrotestosterone or DHT as it is understood is an extremely potent hormonal agent in the humane body. This hormone DHT is responsible for providing man his male qualities when he is simply a fetus in his mother’s womb. To put things in the most basic of methods, all of us begin in the womb as women, a status selected by nature.

It is during the sixth week of pregnancy that DHT starts to form in the fetus by testosterone, the male hormonal agent, integrating with an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase. It is this DHT that promotes the development of the male sex organs and stems the growth of the female genitalia. Now simply imaging what would take place if this DHT were to be a scarce commodity throughout this crucial phase of sex decision in the fetus!

The abnormalities of DHT deficiency.

The outcome of a shortage of Dihydrotestosterone in the fetus phase will result in abnormal development of male sex organs and will produce an infant which will be neither in this manner nor that, and if the male genitalia are totally formed then there may simply be an absence of libido and probably complete sterility.

Let us comprehend how this takes place. Because males with a deficiency of Dihydrotestosterone are born with unclear genitalia, this condition is better referred to as ‘Pseudohermaphroditism’ the clinical problems of this condition will vary from infertility to underdeveloped male with ‘Hypospadias’ to predominantly developed female external genitalia. The uterus and fallopian tubes in this case are absent because of the normal secretion of the’m üllerian-inhibiting’ aspect and the testes are intact. Male internal ducts exist however terminate in a blind Pseudovaginal pouch or terminate on the perineum.

How it takes place.

5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone or DHT, is the cause of this very disturbing disorder.

The conversion to DHT involves hydroxylation at the 5 carbon position of the ‘A’ ring of the steroid molecule. This modification flattens the shape of DHT, permitting it to fit completely into the androgen receptor in a way that the hormone testosterone can not. In this way, DHT is bound selectively to the androgen receptors in genital skin and fibroblasts, making its action required for the development of typical male genital anatomy in the fetus.

There are treatments available but to what level they are effective is difficult to say.

It is throughout the 6th week of pregnancy that DHT starts to form in the fetus by testosterone, the male hormone, integrating with an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase. It is this DHT that promotes the development of the male sex organs and stems the growth of the female genitalia. In this way, DHT is bound selectively to the androgen receptors in genital skin and fibroblasts, making its action essential for the advancement of typical male genital anatomy in the fetus.