This study reports on the isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone, regulated by androgen transcriptionally, in male Golden hamsters' flank organs. Previous studies have reported on the cloning of an androgen-dependent gene, FAR-17a, from the same hamster organ. After castration, the FAR-17c transcription rate decreases faster than FAR-17a but is not suppressed completely. The recovery of transcription by androgen injection is also faster than FAR-17a. In male hamsters, it is expressed strongly in the sebaceous glands and liver, and weakly in the lungs and brain. It has never been expressed in the testes. In the female, it is strongly expressed in the liver and brain and weakly in the lungs and flank organs. Sequence analysis shows that FAR-17c has a long 1062 bp open reading frame and its deduced amino acid sequence (354 residues) is highly homologous to the stearyl-CoA desaturases of the rat liver and mouse adipocytes. Stearyl-CoA desaturase, either in the liver or adipocytes appears to be independent of androgen regulation. Since stearyl-CoA desaturase plays a key role in fatty acid metabolism, further studies on its regulation by androgen are warranted in relation to acne vulgaris.