What Are Androgen Receptors? How They Influence Testosterone and Muscle Growth

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Androgen Receptors Definition

Androgen receptors, often abbreviated as AR, are specialized proteins inside cells that bind to androgen hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.

After an androgen binds to the receptor, the activated receptor can influence gene expression and cellular processes related to:

• Muscle development
• Protein metabolism
• Bone health
• Sexual development
• Reproductive function
• Hair growth
• Other androgen-dependent tissues

In skeletal muscle, androgen receptors are one of the main ways testosterone communicates with muscle cells. Androgens can affect muscle size and strength through several mechanisms involving gene transcription, muscle protein balance and muscle-cell development.

Simple definition

An androgen receptor is a cellular “receiver” that allows hormones such as testosterone to deliver instructions to a cell.

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What Does “Androgen” Mean?

Androgens are a group of steroid hormones involved in male sexual development and several other physiological functions in both men and women.

The best-known androgens include:

• Testosterone
• Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT
• Androstenedione
• Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA

Although androgen levels are generally higher in men, women also produce and use androgens.

Androgens exert many of their effects by binding to androgen receptors located in different tissues throughout the body.

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Where Are Androgen Receptors Found?

Androgen receptors are found in many tissues, including:

• Skeletal muscle
• Bone
• The prostate
• Reproductive tissues
• Skin
• Hair follicles
• The brain
• Adipose tissue

The effects of androgen-receptor activation differ by tissue.

In muscle, androgen signaling may support growth and repair. In hair follicles or prostate tissue, the same hormone-receptor interaction can produce very different effects.

This is why testosterone does not simply send one universal message throughout the body.

The response depends partly on:

• The tissue involved
• The number of available receptors
• Receptor sensitivity
• Hormone concentration
• Local enzymes
• Genetic factors
• Other cellular signals

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How Androgen Receptors Work

The androgen receptor belongs to a family of proteins known as nuclear receptors.

A simplified version of the process looks like this:

1. Testosterone or another androgen enters a cell.
2. The hormone binds to an androgen receptor.
3. The hormone-receptor complex changes shape.
4. The activated complex moves into the cell nucleus.
5. It binds to specific DNA regions.
6. It influences the expression of certain genes.
7. The cell changes its production of proteins and other molecules.

This traditional pathway is called genomic androgen signaling because it affects gene transcription.

Researchers also study faster, non-genomic androgen effects involving signaling pathways outside the nucleus. However, the genomic pathway remains central to understanding how androgens regulate skeletal-muscle tissue.

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Why Androgen Receptors Matter for Muscle Growth

Testosterone cannot exert its full effects on skeletal muscle without interacting with androgen receptors.

When androgen signaling occurs in muscle cells, it may influence:

• Muscle protein synthesis
• Muscle protein breakdown
• Muscle-cell differentiation
• Satellite-cell activity
• Muscle-fiber growth
• Other growth-related signaling pathways

Reviews of androgen action in skeletal muscle suggest that androgens can shift muscle protein balance toward greater protein accumulation while also influencing several cellular targets involved in growth and repair.

However, androgen receptors are only one part of muscle growth.

Hypertrophy also depends on:

• Progressive resistance training
• Adequate protein
• Sufficient calories
• Recovery
• Sleep
• Genetics
• Training experience
• Muscle-specific mechanical tension

High androgen-receptor activity does not replace an effective training and nutrition program.

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Testosterone, Androgen Receptors and Muscle Hypertrophy

Testosterone circulating in the bloodstream is not the entire story.

A hormone must interact with its receptor to influence the target cell.

This means that two people with similar testosterone levels could theoretically differ in their cellular response because of differences in:

• Androgen-receptor content
• Receptor sensitivity
• Local hormone metabolism
• Muscle-specific signaling
• Genetics

A 2018 study of resistance-trained young men reported that skeletal-muscle androgen-receptor content was associated with resistance-training-induced hypertrophy, while circulating and intramuscular hormone concentrations were not clearly associated with the amount of growth. The researchers did not prove that receptor content alone caused the difference, but the findings suggest that local muscle signaling may matter more than temporary blood-hormone changes.

More recent research has added nuance. A 2024 study found that baseline values and changes in several androgen-receptor markers did not clearly explain why some previously untrained individuals gained muscle while others did not.

The practical lesson is:

Androgen receptors appear biologically important, but they are not a simple score that predicts exactly how much muscle someone will build.

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Do More Androgen Receptors Mean More Muscle?

Not automatically.

Having more androgen receptors may allow a tissue to respond differently to available androgens, but muscle growth depends on many interacting factors.

Androgen-receptor content can also change with:

• Training
• Hormone exposure
• Age
• Muscle damage
• Nutrition
• Timing after exercise
• The muscle being studied

Some research has associated greater muscle androgen-receptor content with hypertrophy, while other studies have not found receptor measurements sufficient to explain individual growth responses.

It is therefore inaccurate to say:

• More receptors always equal more muscle
• One workout permanently increases receptor count
• A supplement can reliably “unlock” androgen receptors
• Receptor sensitivity can be meaningfully measured at home

Androgen signaling is far more complex than supplement marketing often suggests.

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Does Resistance Training Increase Androgen Receptors?

Resistance exercise can influence androgen-receptor content and localization, but the response depends on timing, training status, workout volume and other variables.

Some studies have observed changes in skeletal-muscle androgen-receptor content following resistance exercise or training. Other studies have found that receptor content can temporarily decrease shortly after high-volume exercise, possibly reflecting acute cellular stress or receptor regulation.

This does not mean high-volume training is automatically harmful.

It means androgen-receptor measurements can change over time and should not be interpreted from one post-workout sample.

What lifters should focus on

Rather than trying to design a workout around receptor manipulation, focus on:

• Progressive overload
• Consistent training
• Sufficient weekly volume
• Good exercise technique
• Adequate recovery
• Enough protein and calories

These factors have a much clearer practical relationship with muscle growth.

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Androgen Receptors and mTOR

Androgen signaling may interact with pathways involved in muscle growth, including the PI3K, Akt and mTOR pathways.

Animal and cellular research suggests androgen-receptor activity can influence growth-related signaling associated with IGF-1 and mTOR. One animal study reported that blocking androgen receptors reduced some training-related hypertrophy and signaling responses, supporting the receptor’s biological role in exercise adaptation.

However, these findings do not mean that lifters should attempt to “hack” mTOR or androgen receptors directly.

The established natural strategies remain:

• Resistance training
• Protein intake
• Adequate energy
• Sleep
• Recovery

Related glossary entry: [What Is mTOR?]

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Androgen Receptors and Satellite Cells

Satellite cells are muscle-associated stem cells involved in muscle repair and adaptation.

Androgen signaling may influence:

• Satellite-cell activation
• Muscle-cell differentiation
• Muscle-fiber repair
• The addition of nuclei to growing muscle fibers

Research reviews indicate that androgens can act on several cell types within skeletal muscle, including muscle fibers, satellite cells and other supporting cells.

This may be one of several ways androgen-receptor signaling contributes to long-term muscle development.

Related glossary entry: [Satellite Cells Explained]

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Do Women Have Androgen Receptors?

Yes.

Women have androgen receptors throughout the body, including in skeletal muscle.

Women also produce testosterone and other androgens, although typical circulating concentrations are lower than those found in men.

Research on female muscle suggests testosterone can increase androgen-receptor protein content and promote receptor movement toward the nucleus in cultured muscle cells. However, the relationship between androgen-receptor measurements and hypertrophy may differ between men and women.

Women do not need male testosterone levels to gain muscle.

Female muscle growth still responds strongly to:

• Progressive resistance training
• Protein intake
• Training volume
• Recovery
• Nutrition

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Do Androgen Receptors Decline With Age?

Aging can affect hormone levels, muscle mass and cellular signaling.

Testosterone commonly declines gradually in many men with age, while skeletal muscle may also become less responsive to some anabolic stimuli.

Research has examined how age influences androgen-receptor responses to resistance exercise, but receptor behavior is not determined by age alone. Training status, health, nutrition and individual biology also matter.

Older adults can still gain meaningful muscle and strength through resistance training.

Age does not make muscle growth impossible.

Related guide: [How to Build Muscle After 40]

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Can You Naturally Increase Androgen Receptors?

There is no proven consumer supplement or lifestyle trick that reliably and dramatically increases androgen receptors in human muscle.

Resistance training may influence receptor content and signaling, but results vary.

The most practical ways to support normal androgen function are to:

Train consistently

Use progressive resistance training rather than random workouts.

Eat enough

Chronic severe energy restriction may impair training and hormone function.

Consume adequate protein

Protein supports muscle repair and growth.

Sleep properly

Poor sleep can reduce performance and interfere with overall endocrine health.

Maintain a healthy body composition

Obesity can be associated with reduced testosterone in men.

Correct genuine deficiencies

Work with a qualified healthcare professional when nutrient or hormone deficiencies are suspected.

These habits support the overall environment in which androgen signaling operates, even though they do not guarantee a specific receptor increase.

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Do Testosterone Boosters Increase Androgen Receptors?

Most over-the-counter testosterone boosters do not have strong evidence showing that they meaningfully increase muscle androgen-receptor content or produce substantial hypertrophy in healthy people.

Common marketing claims include:

• Increasing receptor density
• Improving receptor sensitivity
• Unlocking free testosterone
• Amplifying anabolic signaling

These claims are often stronger than the available human evidence.

Before buying a product, ask:

• Has the ingredient been tested in resistance-trained humans?
• Was androgen-receptor content actually measured?
• Did participants gain meaningful muscle?
• Was the study independently funded?
• Were participants deficient before supplementation?

Correcting a genuine deficiency is different from pushing a normal system beyond its natural range.

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Androgen Receptors and Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic compounds that activate androgen receptors.

Because they can expose receptors to androgen levels far above normal physiological concentrations, these drugs can substantially increase muscle mass and strength.

However, nonmedical steroid use carries serious risks, including:

• Suppression of natural testosterone production
• Fertility problems
• Cardiovascular risks
• Changes in blood pressure and cholesterol
• Liver injury with certain compounds
• Mood changes
• Acne and hair loss
• Gynecomastia
• Other endocrine complications

The biological fact that anabolic steroids activate androgen receptors should not be interpreted as a recommendation to use them.

Medical hormone treatment should be managed by a licensed clinician.

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Androgen Receptors vs. Testosterone Levels

These terms are related but not interchangeable.

Testosterone level

The amount of testosterone measured in the blood.

Androgen-receptor content

The amount of androgen-receptor protein present in a tissue or cell.

Receptor sensitivity

How strongly a cell responds when androgen binds to the receptor.

Local hormone concentration

The amount of androgen available inside or near a specific tissue.

A blood testosterone test does not directly measure muscle androgen-receptor content or sensitivity.

This is one reason a single testosterone number cannot fully predict muscle-building potential.

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Common Myths About Androgen Receptors

Myth 1: High testosterone guarantees more muscle

False.

Testosterone matters, but training, nutrition, genetics, receptor signaling and recovery all influence hypertrophy.

Myth 2: You can feel your androgen receptors activating

False.

There is no reliable sensation that indicates androgen-receptor activation.

Myth 3: A workout pump proves greater androgen signaling

False.

A pump reflects increased blood flow and fluid accumulation, not a direct measurement of receptor activity.

Myth 4: Certain foods dramatically increase receptor density

Unsupported.

A nutritious diet supports general health and hormone function, but no ordinary food has been shown to dramatically increase muscle androgen-receptor density.

Myth 5: Natural supplements can create steroid-like receptor activation

Unsupported and potentially misleading.

Over-the-counter products do not reproduce the pharmacological effects of anabolic steroids.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do androgen receptors do?

They bind androgen hormones such as testosterone and influence gene expression and cellular processes in tissues including skeletal muscle, bone, skin and reproductive organs.

Are androgen receptors found in muscle?

Yes. Skeletal-muscle cells and supporting cell types contain androgen receptors that contribute to the tissue’s response to androgens.

Does lifting weights increase androgen receptors?

Resistance exercise may alter muscle androgen-receptor content or localization, but the response varies with the workout, timing and individual. The long-term practical priority remains progressive training and recovery.

Do more androgen receptors mean more muscle growth?

Not necessarily. Some studies have found associations between receptor content and hypertrophy, while others have not found receptor measurements sufficient to explain individual growth differences.

Do women have androgen receptors?

Yes. Women have androgen receptors in skeletal muscle and other tissues and use androgen signaling despite having lower average testosterone levels.

Can supplements increase androgen-receptor sensitivity?

There is no strong evidence that common over-the-counter supplements dramatically improve muscle androgen-receptor sensitivity in healthy humans.

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Key Takeaways

Androgen receptors are essential parts of the body’s hormone-signaling system.

Remember:

• They bind testosterone and other androgens.
• They influence gene expression inside cells.
• They play a role in muscle protein balance, muscle-cell development and tissue repair.
• Their content and activity may influence how muscle responds to androgens.
• They do not act alone.
• Testosterone levels alone cannot predict muscle growth.
• No ordinary supplement has been proven to dramatically “unlock” androgen receptors.

For natural muscle growth, focus on the factors you can control:

• Progressive resistance training
• Adequate protein
• Sufficient calories
• Seven to nine hours of sleep
• Recovery
• Long-term consistency

You do not need to manipulate androgen receptors directly.

You need to create a training and recovery environment in which your normal hormone-signaling systems can function effectively.

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Continue Learning

Explore these related glossary entries and guides:

• Testosterone
• Anabolic State
• Muscle Protein Synthesis
• Satellite Cells
• mTOR
• Hypertrophy
• Progressive Overload
• How to Naturally Support Testosterone for Muscle Growth
• How to Build Muscle After 40
• Muscle Growth Glossary

Download our FREE 12-Week Muscle Growth Plan for structured workouts, nutrition guidance, recovery strategies and progressive overload targets.

Question: Before reading this guide, did you think testosterone levels alone determined muscle growth? Share your thoughts in the comments.**

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Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose or treat hormone-related conditions. Consult a qualified healthcare professional if you have concerns about testosterone, fertility, sexual function or hormone therapy.