Abstract
Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that human cultured skin fibroblasts have a receptor which binds dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with high affinity, high specificity but low capacity. Kd and Bmax values were similar in sex skin fibroblasts from male and female subjects but the Bmax of sex skin was higher than in non-sex skin. The present investigation was designed to find out whether fetal cells have DHT receptors, the age they can be detected and whether there are differences in Bmax between fibroblasts from sexual organs and non-sexual tissues. 1/ The youngest specimen studied was 8 wks: DHT receptors were found in fibroblasts from non-sex skin. 2/ A 10 wk fetus had a high level of DHT receptors in fibroblasts from the external genitalia. The value was similar to normal values for newborn skin. 3/ In 2 female fetuses there was greater DHT binding in fibroblasts from sex organ than in those from non-sexual skin. 4/ DHT receptors were present in fibroblasts from testis, from lung but not from intestine. 5/ In a mixture of epithelial cells and fibroblasts from one kidney, we found receptors with a low Bmax and a low Kd. 6/ 5α-reductase activity was detected in fibroblasts of a 10 wk old fetus; the levels being lower in non-sex skin than in sex organs.
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