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Tissue-Specific Androgen Response

Meaning

Tissue-Specific Androgen Response refers to the phenomenon where different target tissues within the body exhibit varied and distinct biological reactions to the same circulating androgen hormones, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This differential response is dictated by the local concentration of androgen receptors, the activity of local metabolizing enzymes like 5-alpha reductase and aromatase, and the presence of tissue-specific co-regulators. Clinically, this explains why a systemic hormonal change can produce highly localized effects, for example, in muscle versus hair follicles.