How do androgens influence male sexual characteristics?

Androgens are steroid hormones primarily secreted by the testes that play a fundamental role in the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics.12

Developmental and Physiological Roles

During embryonic development, androgens are responsible for the formation of male anatomy. In the adult male, these hormones are essential for:3
* Reproductive Function: They maintain spermatogenesis and the health of the reproductive tract.12
* Physical Characteristics: Androgens promote increased muscular development, the growth of facial and body hair, and the deepening of the voice.13
* Skeletal Growth: In conjunction with growth hormone, androgens stimulate the growth of the bony skeleton during puberty and eventually trigger the closure of the epiphyses, which brings linear growth to an end.24
* Behavior: They are associated with the promotion of male sexual behavior and aggressiveness.123

Mechanism of Action

Testosterone is the primary androgen, though it often acts as a prohormone. In many target tissues, it is converted into the more potent 5α-dihydrotestosterone, which is critical for the development of external genitalia and the prostate gland.14