A Study of Androgen Receptor Amount in Boys With Hypospadias

Abstract

Androgen receptor (AR) amount in prepuce, glans mucosa and chordee tissue from 24 boys with hypospadias was studied. The results showed that androgen receptor amount in prepuce and that in glans mucosa were 55.79±28.67% and 55.68±28.57% of positive cells respectively. There was no correlation between the receptor amount and the type of hypospadias. It had been suspected that in this series, the different clinical appearences of hypospadias might be due to the abnormalities in sub-units or quality of ARs. Further study would be beneficial for exploring the possible cause of hypospadias and guiding the preoperative endocrine therapy. No AR was found in chordee tissue, it means, no response to androgen stimulation in the development of penis, the importance of total excision of chordee tissue in the repair of hypospadias should be emphasized. Key words: Androgen receptor; Hypospadias