Androgen receptor gene alterations are not associated with isolated cryptorchidism.
OBJECTIVE
Multiple theories of testicular descent exist but there is no consensus. Cryptorchidism is a component of the androgen insensitivity syndrome, suggesting that testicular descent may be at least partially under the control of androgenic stimulation. To determine whether isolated cryptorchidism may be caused by androgen insensitivity, we screened a population of boys with isolated cryptorchidism for the presence of androgen receptor gene alterations.


METHODS
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from tissue collected from 21 patients with isolated cryptorchidism during orchiopexy. Patient selection was biased to maximize the likelihood of detection of a genetic etiology of cryptorchidism. The DNA was screened for androgen receptor gene alterations in exons 2 to 8 using single strand conformational polymorphism analysis.


RESULTS
No abnormalities in the androgen receptor gene were detected by single strand conformational polymorphism analysis in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Mutations of the androgen receptor gene in the hormone and DNA binding domains of the protein appear to be an unlikely cause of isolated cryptorchidism.
Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston 77030, USA.
J S
JS
Wiener
M
M
Marcelli
E T
ET
Gonzales
D R
DR
Roth
D J
DJ
Lamb
D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D004247:DNA