Besides many other factors, androgens play a role in expression of male phenotype. Androgen activity is mediated by androgen receptor (AR). After binding to androgen, AR translocates to nucleus and adheres to the regulatory regions of specific chromosomal DNA sequences (androgen response elements/ARE), to activate androgen dependent genes. The AR is encoded by the AR gene (Xq11–12). The gene is...

The androgen insensitivity syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder with a wide spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities, ranging from complete female to ambiguous forms that more closely resemble males. The primary abnormality is a defective androgen receptor protein due to a mutation of the androgen receptor gene. This prevents normal androgen action and thus leads to impaired virilisation. A point m...

Hypospadias is a common urological abnormality and may occur in simple (glandular or penile) or severe forms (perineal). Perineal hypospadias often occurs in association with other genital abnormalities, such as bilateral cryptorchidism and micropenis, and may be the result of partial androgen insensitivity. We have investigated the androgen binding status and androgen receptor gene of boys fro...

AIM To investigate the role of CAG and GGN repeats as genetic background affecting androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) phenotype. METHODS We analyzed lengths of androgen receptor (AR)-CAG and GGN repeats in 69 AIS cases, along with 136 unrelated normal male individuals. The lengths of repeats were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by allelic genotyping to...

We studied a family with two cousins who were diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the androgen receptor gene. A pedigree analysis and a molecular study using PCR and DNA sequencing clarified each female family member's androgen receptor status and revealed a mutation consisting of the deletion of exon 2 and surrounding introns of ...

We have analyzed the entire nucleotide sequences of complementary DNAs of the androgen receptor gene in two siblings (patients 8044 and 8047) with complete androgen insensitivity. Plasma testosterone was in the normal male range, however, androgen binding capacity was undetectable as measured in skin fibroblasts in both patients. 5alpha-reductase activity was normal in both cases confirming tha...

Mutations in the X-linked androgen receptor (AR) gene cause the androgen insensitivity syndrome by impairing androgen-dependent male sexual differentiation to varying degrees. Complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS) yields an external female phenotype, whereas affected cases of partial androgen insensitivity have various ambiguities of the genitalia. Here we describe a 46,XY phenotypically femal...