Disorders Linked to Insufficient Androgen Action in Male Children

    May 2001 in “ Human reproduction update ”
    Charles Sultan, Florentin Paris, Béatrice Térouanne, Patrick Balaguer, Virginie Georget, Nicolas Poujol, Claire Jeandel, Serge Lumbroso, Jean‐Claude Nicolas
    TLDR Insufficient androgen action in male fetuses can cause genital development issues due to genetic mutations or environmental chemicals.
    The study discussed disorders in male children linked to insufficient androgen action, focusing on the roles of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in virilization. It highlighted that mutations in the 5α-reductase type 2 (5αR-2) gene or androgen receptor (AR) gene, as well as environmental endocrine disruptors, could impair androgen action, leading to conditions like hypospadias, cryptorchidism, and micropenis. The research emphasized the need to consider environmental chemicals as potential disruptors of normal male sexual differentiation, alongside natural genetic mutations.
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