What is the role of DHT in development?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plays a crucial role in development, significantly influencing both primary and secondary sex characteristics. Primary sex characteristics, such as the presence of male genitalia, are heavily influenced by DHT. An example of DHT's impact can be seen in certain genetic conditions, such as a well-documented case from the Dominican Republic, where individuals with a genetic disruption appear female at birth but develop male genitalia around puberty due to a surge in DHT 1.

DHT is also responsible for secondary sex characteristics, including body hair and deepening of the voice. Additionally, DHT has a vital function in brain masculinization through a separate pathway from its role in developing physical sex characteristics 1. It's evident that maintaining appropriate DHT levels is essential not only during development but throughout life for various physiological and developmental processes.