Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:76-84 ( January )

Identification of androgen receptor protein and 5-reductase mRNA in human ocular tissues

Eduardo M Rocha, L Alexandra Wickham, Lilia A da Silveira, Kathleen L Krenzer, Fu-Shin Yu, Ikuko Toda, Benjamin D Sullivan, David A Sullivan

Schepens Eye Research Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence to: David A Sullivan, PhD, Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, USA 02114

Accepted for publication 11 August 1999

BACKGROUND/AIMSAndrogens have been reported to influence the structural organisation, functional activity, and/or pathological features of many ocular tissues. In addition, these hormones have been proposed as a topical therapy for such conditions as dry eye syndromes, corneal wound healing, and high intraocular pressure. To advance our understanding of androgen action in the eye, the purpose of the present study was twofold: firstly, to determine whether tissues of the anterior and posterior segments contain androgen receptor protein, which might make them susceptible to hormone effects following topical application; and, secondly, to examine whether these tissues contain the mRNA for types 1 and/or 2 5-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to the very potent metabolite, dihydrotestosterone.
METHODSHuman ocular tissues and cells were obtained and processed for histochemical and molecular biological procedures. Androgen receptor protein was identified by utilising specific immunoperoxidase techniques. The analysis of type 1 and type 2 5-reductase mRNAs was performed by the use of RT-PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequence analysis. All immunohistochemical evaluations and PCR amplifications included positive and negative controls.
RESULTSThese findings show that androgen receptor protein exists in the human lacrimal gland, meibomian gland, cornea, bulbar and forniceal conjunctivae, lens epithelial cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells. In addition, our results demonstrate that the mRNAs for types 1 and 2 5-reductase occur in the human lacrimal gland, meibomian gland, bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and RPE cells.
CONCLUSIONThese combined results indicate that multiple ocular tissues may be target sites for androgen action.

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© 2000 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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