Quantification of the Androgen and Estrogen Receptors in the Penile Tissues of Hypospadias in Comparison with Normal Children.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias is a common congenital abnormality typified by a proximally placed ectopic urethral meatus along the ventral surface of the penis. Androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in the hypospadias tissues may be altered in hypospadias. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated by immunohistochemistry the AR and ER expression in 75 tissues from hypospadias repair, and compared this expression to that of tissue from 75 patients undergoing circumcision. We also compared the intensity of AR and ER expression between different severities of hypospadias. RESULTS: AR quantitative grading score decreased with severity of hypospadias, while the ER score increased as the hypospadias worsened, which was statistically significant (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION: The penile tissue AR expression is decreased and ER expression is increased with increasing severity of hypospadias.