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Androgen Biosynthesis And Degradation

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Abstract

Androgens are important male sex steroid hormones that exert many physiological functions leading to the male characteristics and other phenotypes. The major circulating androgen is testosterone (T) in the human (Tabel 1). T is synthesized mainly by the Leydig cells of the testis. It has functions of inducing virilization of internal sex organs, including testis and Wolffian duct derivatives such as epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles. Circulating T also plays an important role in the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis loop to maintain proper amounts of sex steroids. The regulation of androgen production will be detailed in the following section.

Table 1. Major types of androgens, function and site of production

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bon-chu, C., Meng-Chun, H. (2002). Androgen Biosynthesis And Degradation. In: Chang, C. (eds) Androgens and Androgen Receptor. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1161-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1161-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5422-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1161-8

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