What Does Testosterone Do?

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In some organs and tissues, such as muscles, bones, and testes, testosterone directly acts on the androgen receptors in target tissues. In addition, in many peripheral tissues, testosterone will be converted into DHT under the action of 5a-reductase and then play a role. These tissues include external genitalia, accessory sex glands (such as prostate) and skin. In some tissues, such as adipose tissue and some brain cells, testosterone is aromatized into E2, which performs its role through E2 receptors.

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During the development of the male fetus, testosterone causes the Wolf tube to differentiate and develop into seminal vesicles, epididymis and vas deferens. The development of the prostate, penis and scrotum depends on DHT.

Testosterone can initiate and maintain spermatogenesis, so it plays an important role in the process of testicular spermatogenesis. Male hormonal contraception is to suppress the secretion of LH and the secretion of testosterone in the testes by giving exogenous testosterone to achieve the purpose of inhibiting spermatogenesis.

At the same time, testosterone is very important for some normal male functions such as sexual desire and spontaneous erection, but androgen has little effect on erections caused by visual erotic stimulation. The role of testosterone in the central nervous system on cognition, social and sexual behavior is still controversial and needs further research. Male aggressive behavior in lower animals is related to serum testosterone levels.

Testosterone can also affect lipid metabolism, too high or too low testosterone levels can cause disorders of the cardiovascular system. Testosterone can increase the number of red blood cells. Low testosterone levels can be accompanied by reduced fibrin lytic activity, increasing the risk of thromboembolism. Testosterone affects the synthesis and secretion of various serum proteins in the liver. It stimulates the production of erythropoietin in the kidney and has a direct effect on the stem cells of the hematopoietic system. On the skin, DHT stimulates the growth of beard, armpit hair, and pubic hair. Testosterone can increase muscle tissue, stimulate fat production, and cause nitrogen retention. Testosterone stimulates the secretion of growth hormone, causing sudden growth during puberty. Testosterone causes the maturation of osteoblasts and chondrocytes, and actually leads to the fusion of the epiphyses. It also acts on bone cells to stimulate bone formation and maintain normal bone density. During puberty, low voice, enlarged throat and other physiological phenomena are also related to testosterone.

Androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the steroid hormone receptor subfamily, belonging to ligand-dependent transcription factors. Unlike other steroid hormone receptor genes located on autosomes, the AR gene is located on the long arm Xq11-12 of the X chromosome. These steroid hormone receptors located on autosomes mainly include progesterone receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, mineralocorticoid receptor and estrogen receptor.

According to the molecular structure of steroid hormone receptors, it is divided into 4 domains: 

①N-terminal, transactivation domain; 

②DNA binding domain; 

③hinge region; 

④C-terminal ligand binding domain.

Among the members of this family, the DNA binding domain is highly conserved, and the ligand binding domain is moderately conserved. The DNA binding domain and ligand binding domain of the estrogen receptor are exceptions, which are rarely homologous to the corresponding regions of other steroid hormone receptors. Among family members, the N-terminal homology is less than 15%. AR plays a key role in the process of androgens (mainly testosterone and DHT). The AR located in the cytoplasm binds to the heat shock protein, and testosterone diffuses into the target cell and binds to the AR in the cytoplasm or nucleus. At this time, the heat shock protein dissociates. The homodimer of AR and androgen complex binds to the DNA response element. The androgen response gene begins to be transcribed. AR mutations can cause pseudohermaphroditism. At present, 10 mutated AR sequences have been found, including point mutations on the androgen binding chain, premature stop codon, point mutations at the splicing, and exon loss. The entire gene is lost and so on.