Androgens directly stimulate mineralization and increase androgen receptors in human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells.

5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an active form of testosterone, was shown to stimulate the mineralization of osteoblasts in a time- and dose-dependent manner in vitro in the presence of inorganic phosphate, as well as transforming growth factor beta and 1 alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. However, DHT, stimulated the mineralization by a different mechanism from that of transforming growth factor beta and 1 alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. We found that DHT increased the number of androgen receptors. These findings suggest that androgens directly stimulate mineralization in osteoblasts associated with an increase in the number of their receptors.