DIFFERENT LEVELS OF 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE TYPE-I AND TYPE-II, AROMATASE, AND ANDROGEN RECEPTOR IN HAIR-FOLLICLES OF WOMEN AND MEN WITH ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA

In this study, 12 women and 12 men, ages 18-33 y, with androgenetic al opecia were selected for biopsies from frontal and occipital scalp sit es. The androgen receptor, type I and II 5 alpha-reductase, cytochrome P-450-aromatase enzyme were measured and analyzed in hair follicles f rom these scalp biopsies, Findings revealed that both women and men ha ve higher levels of receptors and 5 alpha-reductase type I and II in f rontal hair follices than in occipital follicles, whereas higher level s of aromatase were found in their occipital follicles, There are mark ed quantitative differences in levels of androgen receptors and the th ree enzymes, which we find to be primarily in the outer root sheath of the hair follicles in the two genders, Androgen receptor content in f emale frontal hair follicles was approximately 40% lower than in male frontal hair follicle, Cytochrome P-450-aromatase content in women's f rontal hair follicles was six times greater than in frontal hair folli cles in men, Frontal hair follicles in women had 3 and 3.5 times less 5 alpha-reductase type I and II, respectively, than frontal hair folli cles in men, These differences in levels of androgen receptor and ster oid-converting enzymes may account for the different clinical presenta tions of androgenetic alopecia in women and men.