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Section of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Academic Hospital Ghent, Belgium
Address requests for reprints to: Dr. A. Vermeulen, Section of Endocrinology, State University of Ghent, Academic Hospital, De Pintelaan, 135, B 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Using the continuous infusion technique, the conversion ratios (CR) of testosterone (T) to androstenedione (A) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and of A to T and DHT were determined in 12 normal males (aged 31-72 yr), 10 normal postmenopausal women, and 4 amenorrheic women with idiopathic hirsutism; in 4 additional males these studies were performed during infusion of cold T to increase plasma T to supraphysiological levels. It was observed that besides the MCR of T and DHT, the blood conversion ratios (CRBB) of T in A and to a lesser extent of T in DHT were also significantly correlated with either the free or the nontestosterone-estradiolbinding globulin-bound T fraction but not with total plasma T.
In postmenopausal women, plasma A was by far the most important precursor of plasma DHT; the 
was significantly higher than 
.
It is suggested that total plasma A, but only nonspecifically bound T, freely gains access into the cells where these conversions occur and that plasma A might be an important parameter of androgenicity.
Less than 50% of plasma DHT could be accounted for by peripheral conversion of either A or T. Whereas in males this may be explained by direct DHT secretion, in (postmenopausal) women conversion of other precursors to plasma DHT should be considered. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 48: 320, 1979)
Received July 7, 1978.
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