[Evidence and characterization of an androgen receptor in the uropygial gland of the adult male quail].

5 alpha-DHT is bound with a high affinity (Kd = 0.8 nM) and a limited capacity (80 fmol/mg proteins) in the cytosol of the preen gland of quails, an analogue of sebaceous glands. The complex can be precipitated by protamin-sulfate and is sedimented in the 8 S region after ultra-centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. The occurrence of this binding that exhibits the main properties of an androgen receptor, supports the use of the preen gland of quails as a tool for the study of the mechanism of action of androgens in birds and as a model for the study of the androgen control of sebaceous-like glands.