The In Vitro Metabolism of Testosterone by Human Skin1

Recent reports from this laboratory have indicated the participation of many human tissues in the in vitrometabolism of testosterone (1, 2, 3, 4). The amount of testosterone metabolism calculated on a cellular basis by means of desoxy-pentose nucleic acid (DNA) determination is exceptionally high for breast cancer and human skin tissues, as is shown in Figure 1. This report deals with the preliminary findings of a more detailed study of testosterone metabolism by human skin. The effects upon steroid metabolism following the quick freezing of biopsies were determined. Samples of skin from several different body areas were compared, particularly those areas which varied in type and in the concentration of dermal appendages. A comparison of metabolic rates of adjacent biopsies was made. A preliminary comparison of the rate of metabolism between normal and diseased skin was also attempted.