Androgen Regulation of Androgen Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Differs in Rat Prostate and Selected Brain Areas

Androgens bind to specific high-affinity receptors (AR), thereby initiating gene transcription. We investigated the effects of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 17β-estradiol (E2) on AR transcription and binding in prostate, medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), preoptic area (POA), amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex in the rat. Androgen receptor mRNA was measured by a ribonuclease protection assay. Cytosolic and nuclear AR binding (ARc...