How to measure DHT and Allopregnanolone correctly?

General Discussion
#1

Hi,

From what I’ve read, DHT is a paracrine hormone. A paracrine hormone is one which is produced locally in certain parts of the body and is present in much higher concentrations there than in the rest of the body. For paracrine hormones the target cell is also located near the place where the hormone is produced. For DHT this is those parts of the body which are high in 5-AR (which converts T->DHT), such as the brain, the seminal vesicles, and the prostate.

Now, when measuring DHT, the systemic level in the blood is normally measured. Based on what I wrote above, one can question how much relevance such a measurement has? For example, it could be that lots of DHT is produced in the prostate, but almost none is produced in the brain. The systemic level could then be very high, despite there being a lack of DHT in the brain.

For the Post-Finasteride syndrome, this could mean that once Propecia usage has been discontinued, perhaps the 5-AR production recovers in certain parts of the body such as the prostate, but not in other parts of the body such as the brain. Measuring the systemic DHT level would then still provide a “normal” value, giving an illusion that everything is normal as far as DHT production is concerned.

So, based on this, I just wonder if anyone knows if it is possible to measure the local DHT level throughout the body? I remember reading some scientific articles describing what the DHT concentrations were in different parts of the body, so it ought to be possible. Sometime similar measurements are done by injecting small amount of a substance in the body that attaches to the chemical to be measured (DHT in this case), and then scanning the body with a device that is able to detect the injected substance. I don’t know exactly how it works, but it could be that the injected substance is some sort of radioactive isotope whose emission can be measured. Remember that this is done with very low levels of radiation, so it should not be harmful to the body.

Base on the above, I have some questions:

  • Does anybody know if it possible to perform such a measurement? (I know it’s not possible using standard tests, but perhaps in a research lab?)
  • Do you think it would be something worth investigating?
  • I suppose this question is also of relevance to Allopregnanolone, which also is produced by conversion via 5-AR. Can anybody confirm that?
  • Any thoughts in general about what I wrote above?
#2

Well you can test 5ar2 via genital skin fibroblast - it’s a localized test

#3

Thats’s good. Of the places where DHT is produced, I suppose the genitals and the brain are the areas where we should be most worried about not having enough DHT.

I guess that test could be applied to the skin on other parts of the body as well? But still it would be limited to the skin, right? No way to measue the DHT concentration in other parts of the body where DHT is produced, such as the brain or the prostate?

#4

Not sure really - but yeah the genital area is a place it’s suppose to be present in high quantities so it could provide incite into this condition. No one on the board has had
the test yet.

#5

Ok, I see. I suppose the brain would be an important place to measure it in as well, since a low DHT or Allopregnanolone level there that could likely be the source for typical post-Propecia symptoms such as low libido, brain fog, anxiety, etc.

Then of course there’s the issue with what should be considered “normal” levels when measuring DHT or Allopregnanolone locally. To determine that a reference range would first have to be established by performing the measurements on a “healthy” population. Unfortunately I don’t think any such reference ranges exist currently (e.g for local DHT level in the brain, local DHT level in the genital skin, etc).

Another issue with all of this is what should be done if it is found that the local DHT or Allopregnanolone level is too low in e.g. the brain. Let’s say that the “normal” DHT level in a certain local part of the brain is 10 times higher than the systemic level. Then it is found that in a Post-Finasteride Synrome individual the local DHT level in that part of the brain is only as high as the systemic level. To fix that by traditional Hormone Replacement Theraphy (HRT), one would have to increase the systemic DHT level to 10 times what is normal, which may not be safe or may have other side effects. One could of course always hope for a way to increase the DHT level locally instead (i.e. only affecting those parts of the body where an increase is needed), but I don’t see how that could be done.