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Androgen Receptor Occupancy

Meaning

Androgen Receptor Occupancy is a precise pharmacological metric that describes the proportion of available androgen receptors (ARs) within target tissues that are currently bound by an androgenic ligand, such as testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This binding is the fundamental step required to initiate the genomic signaling cascade responsible for androgenic effects on muscle, bone, and libido. High occupancy levels are generally correlated with maximal physiological effect, but prolonged, excessive occupancy can lead to receptor downregulation or desensitization. Clinically, optimizing this occupancy is the primary goal of androgen replacement therapy.