Androgen receptor study in children with hypospadias in comparison with children with normal genitalia

Androgen receptors (ARs) have been localized to the penile skin, inner prepuce and urethra. Androgens play an important and vital role in the development of male urethra. Androgen signalling through the AR is critical for normal penile development. The objective of our study was to prospectively assess the AR staining score in children with hypospadias in comparison with children with normal genitalia. All children with hypospadias presenting to the Paediatric urological services for repair formed the study group. Children with normal genitalia and undergoing circumcision either for phimosis or for religious indications formed the controls. A piece of the foreskin was collected during surgery and were stained for immunohistochemistry. AR staining was expressed as an m-quick score. A total of 32 children (group I) underwent primary hypospadias repair and 24 children (group II) underwent circumcision during the study period. The mean m-quick score in patients with hypospadias was 219.96 and that of children undergoing circumcision was 90.04 (p <0.050). AR is overexpressed in patients with hypospadias when compared with patients with normal genitalia. Similarly, AR is significantly overexpressed in patients with proximal hypospadias when compared with distal hypospadias.