Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 67, 104-109, Copyright © 1988 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Quantitating genetic and nongenetic factors influencing androgen production and clearance rates in men

AW Meikle, JD Stringham, DT Bishop and DW West
Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.

Both hereditary and nonhereditary factors have a decided influence on plasma sex steroid concentrations in men. We studied the relative contributions of genetic and nongenetic factors on the production rate (PR) and MCR of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and their conversion ratios to other metabolites in monozygotic (MZ; n = 22) and dizygotic (DZ; n = 24) male twins. Zygosity was determined by measurement of 10 blood proteins and enzymes. The kinetic studies were conducted with isotope dilution techniques. The genetic effect was determined from the equation: 2[rMZ - rDZ], where r is intraclass correlation. A heritability of over 40% was found for the PRs of DHT/body surface area and of testosterone/body surface area. Nongenetic factors accounted for 50% or more of the variation of the conversion ratios for testosterone/3 alpha-androstanediol and DHT/3 alpha- androstanediol. The results suggest that genetic factors markedly influence the PRs of testosterone and DHT, suggesting that the PR of these potent androgens is under genetic control despite the decided influence of environmental factors on their clearance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Crabbe, V. Bogaert, D. De Bacquer, S. Goemaere, H. Zmierczak, and J. M. Kaufman Part of the Interindividual Variation in Serum Testosterone Levels in Healthy Men Reflects Differences in Androgen Sensitivity and Feedback Set Point: Contribution of the Androgen Receptor Polyglutamine Tract Polymorphism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2007; 92(9): 3604 - 3610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-T. Sheu, J. M. Zmuda, J. A. Cauley, S. P. Moffett, C. J. Rosen, C. Ishwad, and R. E. Ferrell Nuclear Receptor Coactivator-3 Alleles Are Associated with Serum Bioavailable Testosterone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, and Vertebral Bone Mass in Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2006; 91(1): 307 - 312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Horowitz, R. McDermott, and A. C. Stam Leader Age, Regime Type, and Violent International Relations Journal of Conflict Resolution, October 1, 2005; 49(5): 661 - 685. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Kaufman and A. Vermeulen The Decline of Androgen Levels in Elderly Men and Its Clinical and Therapeutic Implications Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2005; 26(6): 833 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Ukkola, T. Rankinen, J. Gagnon, A. S. Leon, J. S. Skinner, J. H. Wilmore, D. C. Rao, and C. Bouchard A Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Steroids and SHBG Levels in Black and White Families: The HERITAGE Family Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2002; 87(8): 3708 - 3720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C Gould, R. Petty, and H. S Jacobs For and against: The male menopause---does it exist? • For • Against BMJ, March 25, 2000; 320(7238): 858 - 861. [Full Text]

				H. Vierhapper, P. Nowotny, and W. Waldhausl Determination of Testosterone Production Rates in Men and Women Using Stable Isotope/Dilution and Mass Spectrometry J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 1997; 82(5): 1492 - 1496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]