Abstract
The activity of 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17.beta.-HSD) was assayed in various tissues microdissected from the freeze-dried human skin of 14 subjects. The apocrine sweat gland, sebaceous gland and hair follicle possessed a high activity of 17.beta.-HSD. Enzyme activity was negligible in the epidermis, except that the scalp epidermis showed much the same activity as the hair follicle. The dermis showed variable activity because of contamination with other components.