Testosterone metabolism by homogenates of human prostates with benign hyperplasia: Effect of tissular concentrations of zinc, magnesium and copper

Zinc, magnesium and copper concentrations were measured in homogenates of 20 human prostates with benign hyperplasia and a significant direct relationship between zinc and magnesium contents was found. Activities of the testosterone-5α-reductase in the same homogenates were not significantly changed according to the concentrations of the three metals but activities of the 3α- and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were inversely related with the zinc concentrations of the tissue preparations. This inverse relationship may explain the known increased 5α-dihydrotestosterone content in prostatic tissues with high zinc concentrations.