Isolation and characterization of the androgen receptor of murine preputial gland.

The androgen receptor of murine preputial gland showed in binding experiments a biphasic saturation curve and a biphasic Scatchard plot. The receptor converted from an 8.5-9 S form to a 4.5-5 S form in high ionic strength buffer. The apparent dissociation constant was KD 0.5 +/- 0.2 nM for the 8.5-9 S receptor form. A 6.5-7 S receptor form could be detected in some experiments. The ligand specificity was evaluated by competition experiments: testosterone greater than androstenedione greater than dihydrotestosterone greater than androstanediol greater than estradiol greater than progesterone greater than dexamethasone. The receptor of murine preputial gland was less stable than the androgen receptor of skeletal muscle of the same mice.