Androgen receptor mRNA expression in the human hippocampus

[Dubya_B]

A high level of AR expression in the human hippocampus was found in both males and females in this study, alluding to the importance of androgens as neurosteroids in both sexes:

Androgen receptor mRNA expression in the human hippocampus - PubMed

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…of note:

AR mRNA expression was in the same order of magnitude than in prostate tissue, known for its high expression of AR.

The finding of high levels of AR mRNA in the human hippocampus argues for a genomic effect of androgens in hippocampal functions. Since we could not detect any differences in AR mRNA expression with respect to sex, age and hippocampal laterality we assume that androgens might play a more generalized role in modifying neuronal function. Our findings are consistent with previous observations in rats [7] and support the idea that expression levels of ARs in the human hippocampus are maintained throughout life regardless of sex or other factors which may influence hormonal status. Since the human hippocampus contains both the enzymes 17 b-HSD 3 and 5a-reductase 1 for formation of either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone and the receptor necessary for androgen action, this brain area seems to be an important target for genomic effects of locally synthesized androgens.

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@axolotl, you might be interested in what is contained in the full version of this one.

[Cooper]

Sorry for my benightedness :

“AR mRNA expression was in the same order of magnitude than in prostate tissue, known for its high expression of AR.”

So androgen receptors are inside of all tissues of the body, including the brain? And the most expressed areas are hippocampus and prostate? Prostate part explains our problems. Is that means some PFS sufferers could only affected on particular tissues? Im gonna talk this with my doctor friend.
If this poison affects every androgen receptor in our body, shouldn’t we all have to experience mental problems? We know many hard cases of PFS don’t experience mental sides. It is really interesting.

[Dubya_B]

What is meant by “same order of magnitude” is that the expression level of AR in hippocampus is not ten times more or ten times less than in prostate.

6 and 8 are of the same order of magnitude, 50 and 90 are of the same order of magnitude, 4 million and 7 million are of the same order of magnitude, and so on.

@Cooper

So androgen receptors are inside of all tissues of the body, including the brain? And the most expressed areas are hippocampus and prostate?

I don’t think all tissues, but many. The following pages outline where AR mRNA and proteins have been found, although the human protein atlas shows no detection in parts of the body where AR has certainly been discovered before. It might be due to the particular types of cells they used for samples.

https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000169083-AR/tissue

AR androgen receptor [Homo sapiens (human)] - Gene - NCBI

And yes, if AR expression in the hippocampus is near that of prostate, then it would be one of the most AR-rich tissues in the human body. What is very surprising is the level of AR mRNA expression in female reproductive tissue is reported as higher than in the male in both of the above web pages.

@Cooper

Is that means some PFS sufferers could only affected on particular tissues?

Yes. It makes sense considering the variation in symptoms, variation in which tissues are affected by the substances that appear to cause this condition, and probably due to genetic variation among patients.

@Cooper

If this poison affects every androgen receptor in our body, shouldn’t we all have to experience mental problems? We know many hard cases of PFS don’t experience mental sides

That’s the thing. It appears that not every cell that expresses AR is affected in every patient. There are actually quite a few PFS and PAS patients who only have sexual or physical side effects and don’t suffer from depressive, anhedonic, or cognitive symptoms.