The development of DHT dependent structures in utero.
Development of the male external genitalia depends upon the hormonal effect of testosterone after conversion of DHT. Testosterone undergoes a 5a-reduction to DHT within the genitalia and within the prostatic precursor. DHT is therefore indispensable to the proper development of phallus, scrotum and prostate; these structures are under-developed in a 5 a-reductase deficiency. Redrawn from Imperato-McGinley et al. (1974) with permission of the AAAS.
