Testosterone enhances cardiomyogenesis in stem cells and recruits the androgen receptor to the MEF2C and HCN4 genes

Working model for the mechanism by which testosterone enhances cardiomyogenesis in stem cells. Testosterone and its active metabolite DHT are known to bind to AR-1 and translocate into the nucleus (gray arrows). During testosterone-enhanced cardiomyogenesis, formation of the AR1/testosterone complex is essential (black inhibitory arrows) for binding to the MEF2C and HCN4 genes (black arrow). This would lead to enhanced H3K14 acetylation and upregulated transcription of MEF2C, HCN4, leading to cardiomyogenesis, likely in collaboration with other cardiomyogenic transcription factors (CTF).118