Serum Testosterone refers to the concentration of the primary male sex steroid hormone measured in the blood serum, serving as the essential clinical marker for assessing androgen status in both men and women. The measurement is typically categorized into Total Testosterone (T), which includes all protein-bound and unbound hormone, and Free Testosterone (FT), which represents the biologically active, unbound fraction capable of diffusing into target cells. Accurate interpretation of these levels is crucial for diagnosing hypogonadism, monitoring replacement therapy, and evaluating conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Origin
The term is a combination of ‘serum,’ referring to the fluid component of blood after clotting, and ‘testosterone,’ the name of the hormone first isolated and synthesized in the 1930s. The clinical measurement of this steroid hormone became routine with the development of radioimmunoassay techniques in the mid-20th century, enabling the precise quantification of trace hormone concentrations in biological fluids.
Mechanism
Testosterone circulates in the bloodstream in three forms: tightly bound to Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), loosely bound to albumin, and a small fraction that is unbound, known as free testosterone. Only the free fraction and the albumin-bound fraction (collectively termed bioavailable testosterone) can readily interact with cellular androgen receptors to exert their effects. Therefore, the measurement of Free Testosterone is critical in clinical scenarios, such as obesity or aging, where abnormal SHBG levels may lead to a misleading Total Testosterone value that does not reflect true tissue androgen exposure.
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