T. Liang et al., IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ANDROGEN RECEPTORS IN HUMAN SKIN USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE ANDROGEN RECEPTOR, Journal of investigative dermatology, 100(5), 1993, pp. 663-666
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.