The presence of androgen-binding receptors in genital and nongenital skin fibroblasts.

The specific, receptor-dependent 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-binding capacity of cultured fibroblasts derived from genital and nongenital skin has been compared. With the methods employed, the detectable amount of the DHT receptor in nongenital skin-derived fibroblasts is variable, often approaching the limit of detectability. Therefore it is concluded that for differential diagnosis of disorders of sexual development, DHT-binding studies should be performed with genital skin fibroblasts only.