Expression of androgen receptor in mouse eye tissues.

PURPOSE: To test the possibility that androgen directly affects the corneal cells, the possible occurrence of androgen receptor (AR) in the cornea and other eye tissues of mice was examined.

METHODS

To examine the occurrence of AR protein in the mouse eye tissues, an immunocytochemical method was used. To examine the occurrence of AR mRNA in the cornea and lens, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used.

RESULTS

Immunocytochemical examination revealed that antigenicity for AR antibody exists in cell nuclei of cornea, lens, iris, and ciliary body of both male and female mice. RT-PCR revealed that mRNA of AR occurs in the cornea and lens of both male and female mice.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that AR occurs in cells of cornea, lens, iris, and ciliary body of the mouse eye. Androgen may affect cells in these tissues directly through interaction with AR.