Eur J Endocrinol
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DOI: 10.1530/eje.0.1340386
European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 134, Issue 3, 386-392
Copyright © 1996 by European Society of Endocrinology
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Differential subcellular distribution of rat prostatic steroid 5{alpha}-reductase isozyme activities

Paul N Span, CGJ Sweep, Theo J Benraad and Anthony GH Smals

Span PN, Sweep CGJ, Benraad TJ, Smals AGH. Differential subcellular distribution of rat prostatic steroid 5{alpha}-reductase isozyme activities. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:386–92. ISSN 0804–4643

The rat prostate, a classical androgen-target tissue, contains both known isozymes of steroid 5{alpha}-reductase, i.e. type I and type II. So far, the role of the type I isozyme has been proposed as catabolic. The abundant expression of type I 5{alpha}-reductase in an androgen-target tissue is therefore puzzling. Assessment of the subcellular localization of 5{alpha}-reductase isozymes in rat prostate might contribute in elucidating their possibly distinct roles. After obtaining crude subcellular fractions by differential centrifugation, both isozyme activities were measured at neutral pH by plotting according to Eadie–Scatchard. The observations were extended by assessment of pH-dependent velocity ratios and type II 5{alpha}-reductase inhibitor sensitivities in these subcellular fractions. The results indicated a preferentially—although not exclusively—nuclear localization for the type I and a predominantly microsomal localization for the type II isozyme activity in the rat prostate. In conclusion, the nuclear localization of the type I isozyme seems not to concur with its proposed catabolic role.

AGH Smals, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 8, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands






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