Objective: To elucidate whether diminished levels of androgen receptor (AR) are the underlying cause for the development of hypospadias by determining AR levels in the foreskins of boys with hypospadias.
Patients and methods: The content of AR was determined by a sensitive immunoblotting technique in extracts from preputial tissue obtained from 15 patients (mean age 2.5, SD +/- 1.5 years) with hypospadias and from seven controls (mean age 2.5, SD +/- 1.5 years). Immunoreactivity of the protein was measured by densitometry.
Results: No significant difference in mean AR content was found between those boys with hypospadias (2.1 +/- 0.9 fmol/mg protein, +/- SD) and the age-matched control group (2.2 +/- 0.3 fmol/mg protein). Stratification by the severity of hypospadias (distal and proximal on the shaft, and penoscrotal hypospadias) showed that the severity was not related to tissue AR levels.
Conclusion: It is unlikely that hypospadias is caused by a decreased expression of AR.