IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ANDROGEN RECEPTORS IN HUMAN SKIN USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE ANDROGEN RECEPTOR

Androgen receptors were localized in cryostat sections of human skin u sing monoclonal antibodies to the human androgen receptor. Bound antib odies were detected using biotinylated rabbit anti-rat IgG, peroxidase -conjugated streptavidin, and diaminobenzidine as chromogen. In the ne onatal foreskin, antibody to androgen receptor bound to keratinocytes in the epidermis and to fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells in the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining was stronger in nuclei than i n cytoplasm. This staining was specific, because there was no signific ant staining when antibody to the androgen receptor was replaced with IgG from non-immunized rats or with buffer, or when antibody to androg en receptor was incubated, prior to immunostaining, with a trp E - hum an androgen-receptor fusion protein used as immunogen. Incubation of a ndrogen receptor antibody with trp E alone did not affect staining. An drogen-receptor antibody also bound to keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells in skin from adult men and women. Skin from the sca lp, nose, lip, back, and chest gave positive staining for androgen rec eptor. Antibody to androgen receptor also bound to the coil and ductal cells of eccrine glands, external root sheath of hair follicles, epit helium in the hair bulb, dermal papilla cells, and sebocytes. There wa s no significant binding to adipocytes, collagen, or stratum corneum. These results show that androgen receptor is present in cells that are known to be targets for androgens and also in cells in which the biol ogic effects of androgens are yet to be characterized.