Endocrine Abstracts

Apart from some protective roles, the primary function of human hair is to communicate information about a person's age and state of sexual maturity. Therefore, major differences from the norm, such as hirsutism and balding, often cause psychological distress.Androgens are the main regulator of changes in human hair growth. They stimulate the production of pigmented terminal hair in many areas after puberty, including pubic and axillary hair in both sexe...

Red deer (Cervus elaphus ) antlers annually undergo rapid de novo development of new bone, skin and hair follicles in the spring. Antler development, and a mane on the neck in the winter season, are secondary sexual characteristics of red deer stags. Although androgens are involved, where they actually act in the antler is unclear.Therefore, we have explored the expression pattern of the androgen receptor in the developing region of antler...