#264600 ICD+
  • SNOMEDCT: 57514000
SNOMEDCT: 57514000
PSEUDOVAGINAL PERINEOSCROTAL HYPOSPADIAS; PPSH

Alternative titles; symbols
MALE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITISM DUE TO 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE DEFICIENCY
FAMILIAL INCOMPLETE MALE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITISM, TYPE 2

Phenotype Gene Relationships
Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
2p23.1 Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias 264600 SRD5A2 607306


TEXT
A number sign (#) is used with this entry because pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias is caused by mutation in the steroid 5-alpha-reductase-2 gene (SRD5A2; 607306).

Description
Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypopadias is a form of male pseudohermaphroditism in which 46,XY males show ambiguous genitalia at birth, including perineal hypospadias and a blind perineal pouch, and develop masculinization at puberty. The name of the disorder stems from the finding of a blind-ending perineal opening resembling a vagina and a severely hypospadiac penis with the urethra opening onto the perineum.

Clinical Features
De Vaal (1955) reported 3 brothers who were thought for a time to be girls. The parents and grandparents on one side were first cousins, and the great-grandparents were also related. Simpson et al. (1971) described a family with 3 affected brothers whose parents were double first cousins. Each of the affected sibs had an XY karyotype and ambiguous genitalia, leading to rearing as females. No breast development or menstruation occurred at puberty, and instead typical masculinization was observed.

PPSH can be difficult to distinguish from the incomplete testicular feminization syndrome (ITFS; 300068), especially in the young child. The distinction is obviously important since PPSH is a male-limited autosomal recessive with a recurrence risk of 1 in 8, whereas ITFS is probably X-linked recessive (or autosomal dominant male-limited) as is the complete syndrome. Wilson et al. (1974) chose to refer to PPSH as type 2 familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism, type 1 being the Reifenstein syndrome (312300). PPSH resembles the most severe form of type I incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism, but differs from it by the lack of breasts and by its autosomal inheritance. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) formation is defective in this condition. Testosterone and estrogen levels are normal, hence the lack of gynecomastia. Other evidence as well suggests that DHT is important to external virilization.

In a village in the Dominican Republic, Imperato-McGinley et al. (1974) studied 12 families with 22 male pseudohermaphrodites. The affected males were born with ambiguous genitalia and masculinized at puberty without breast development. The testes were normal histologically. The patients had no mullerian structures, complete wolffian differentiation, small phallus, bifid scrotum, urogenital sinus with perineal hypospadias and blind vaginal pouch. At puberty, they showed male habitus with excellent muscular development, voice change, enlargement of phallus and production of semen, but small prostate and scanty beard. Plasma testosterone was normal; plasma 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone was low. An abnormally small amount of radioactive testosterone was converted to dihydrotestosterone. One woman studied showed the same biochemical defect.

The disorder has been found in blacks, whites, American Indians, and Latin Americans, as well as in families from Malta, Jordan, and Pakistan. Imperato-McGinley et al. (1991) described a cluster of male pseudohermaphrodites in the Simbari Anga linguistic group in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Their studies revealed a phenotypic and biochemical profile similar to that in patients studied in the Dominican Republic, except for a greater abundance of facial and body hair. DHT is responsible for masculinization of the external genitalia of the fetus and for masculinization at puberty. The virilization at puberty in PPSH may be related to the facts that the reductase is not completely absent and that low levels of DHT are found in plasma.

Biochemical Features
Leshin et al. (1978) suggested the existence of two forms of 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. In one form (represented by a family in Dallas and by the Dominican kindred), an abnormal Km for substrate and low activity suggested a structural alteration in the enzyme. In a second form, represented by a Los Angeles family, activity in the biopsy specimen was not detectable, although cultured fibroblasts showed normal activity with normal Km for testosterone. The authors postulated either a structural mutation that was corrected or compensated for in tissue culture or a regulatory mutant. These persons have plasma testosterone levels in the high normal range. Although raised as girls, most change to a male-gender identity at puberty. This indicates that the effects of testosterone on the brain override sociocultural factors. Hydroxylation at the fifth position, converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, seems like an insignificant change; however, functionally it produces a marked change because in steric configuration the molecule becomes much flatter and fits its receptor in a way that testosterone cannot (Wilson, 1981). Wilson (1981) studied 14 families; in 11, the enzyme was virtually undetectable. In the other 3, a qualitative abnormality of the enzyme was found.

Inheritance
Chavez et al. (2000) performed DNA analyses in 2 unrelated subjects with SRD5A enzyme deficiency and found differences in the mode of transmission for the disease. Their data showed that in both families the fathers were carriers for a glu197-to-asp mutation (E197D; 607306.0014), whereas the mothers were carriers for a pro212-to-arg mutation (P212R; 607306.0013). While patient 1 was identified as a compound heterozygote for both alterations, patient 2 was found to be homozygous for the paternal mutation. The reduction to homozygosity for the E197D mutation, as confirmed by restriction analysis, supported this view. The authors concluded that their study gives evidence of the first case of SRD5A deficiency resulting from uniparental disomy and reveals an alternate mechanism whereby this enzymatic disorder can be derived from a single parent.

Pathogenesis
Thigpen et al. (1993) provided evidence that the 5-alpha-reductase type 1 enzyme is responsible for the virilization in type 2-deficient subjects during puberty.

Clinical Management
Price et al. (1984) presented evidence that high dose androgen therapy may improve virilization, self-image, and sexual performance in patients with alpha-reductase deficiency who have male-gender behavior and in those patients with Reifenstein syndrome (312100) who have normal amounts of a qualitatively abnormal androgen receptor.

A number of male pseudohermaphrodites have married and expressed a desire to father a child. However, a deficiency in dihydrotestosterone production not only impairs differentiation of male external genitalia but also affects the development and secretory function of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Consequently, affected adults have a rudimentary prostate and underdeveloped seminal vesicles, resulting in a highly viscous semen and an extremely low volume of ejaculate, although sperm counts may be normal. Katz et al. (1997) described the use of intrauterine insemination with sperm from a man with this disorder and a history of infertility. The first pregnancy gave rise to a normal son; the second pregnancy produced fraternal twins. All 3 children were heterozygous for the father's C-to-T mutation in exon 5 of the SRD5A2 gene.

Molecular Genetics
Jenkins et al. (1992) showed that the enzyme encoded by SRD5A1 (184753) on chromosome 5 is not the site of the defect in classic PPSH; in 16 patients with deficiency of 5-alpha-reductase, no SRD5A1 gene rearrangements were detected; in 5 of these subjects, sequence analysis revealed no mutation in the coding regions of the SRD5A1 gene; linkage studies with a RFLP showed recombination and heterozygosity, which would not occur in an autosomal recessive disease. These findings provided evidence for the existence of 2 steroid 5-alpha-reductase enzymes (see SRD5A2; 607306).

In 2 related pseudohermaphrodites from the Simbari Anga linguistic group in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Andersson et al. (1991) found deletion of most of the SRD5A2 gene (607306.0001).

See Also:
Boudon et al. (1995); Cai et al. (1996); Can et al. (1998); Forti et al. (1996); Greene et al. (1978); Hochberg et al. (1996); Imperato-McGinley and Gautier (1986); Imperato-McGinley et al. (1975); Imperato-McGinley et al. (1979); Imperato-McGinley et al. (1980); Jakimiuk et al. (1999); Komp (1979); Leshin et al. (1978); Makridakis et al. (1999); Moore et al. (1975); Nordenskjold and Ivarsson (1998); Nordenskjold et al. (1998); Opitz et al. (1972); Peterson et al. (1977); Pinsky et al. (1978); Savage et al. (1980); Soderstrom et al. (2001); Thigpen et al. (1992); Thigpen et al. (1992); Vilchis et al. (1997); Walsh et al. (1974)

REFERENCES
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2. Boudon, C., Lobaccaro, J. M., Lumbroso, S., Ogur, G., Ocal, G., Belon, C., Sultan, C. A new deletion of the 5-alpha-reductase type 2 gene in a Turkish family with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. Clin. Endocr. 43: 183-188, 1995. [PubMed: 7554313, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

3. Cai, L.-Q., Zhu, Y.-S., Katz, M. D., Herrera, C., Baez, J., DeFillo-Ricart, M., Shackleton, C. H. L., Imperato-McGinley, J. 5-Alpha-reductase-2 gene mutations in the Dominican Republic. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 81: 1730-1735, 1996. [PubMed: 8626825, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

4. Can, S., Zhu, Y.-S., Cai, L.-Q., Ling, Q., Katz, M. D., Akgun, S., Shackleton, C. H. L., Imperato-McGinley, J. The identification of 5-alpha-reductase-2 and 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 gene defects in male pseudohermaphrodites from a Turkish kindred. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 83: 560-569, 1998. [PubMed: 9467575, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

5. Chavez, B., Valdez, E., Vilchis, F. Uniparental disomy in steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2 deficiency. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 85: 3147-3150, 2000. [PubMed: 10999800, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

6. De Vaal, O. M. Genital intersexuality in three brothers, connected with consanguineous marriages in the three previous generations. Acta Paediat. 44: 35-39, 1955. [PubMed: 13292210, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

7. Forti, G., Falchetti, A., Santoro, S., Davis, D. L., Wilson, J. D., Russell, D. W. Steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 deficiency: virilization in early infancy may be due to partial function of mutant enzyme. Clin. Endocr. 44: 477-482, 1996. [PubMed: 8706317, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

8. Greene, S. A., Symes, E., Brook, C. G. D. 5-Alpha-reductase deficiency causing male pseudohermaphroditism. Arch. Dis. Child. 53: 751-753, 1978. [PubMed: 718244, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

9. Hochberg, Z., Chayen, R., Reiss, N., Falik, Z., Makler, A., Munichor, M., Farkas, A., Goldfarb, H., Ohana, N., Hiort, O. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic findings in a large pedigree of male and female patients with 5-alpha-reductase 2 deficiency. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 81: 2821-2827, 1996. [PubMed: 8768837, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

10. Imperato-McGinley, J., Gautier, T. Inherited 5-alpha-reductase deficiency in man. Trends Genet. 2: 130-133, 1986.

11. Imperato-McGinley, J., Guerrero, L., Gautier, T., German, J. L., Peterson, R. E. Steroid-5-alpha-reductase deficiency in man. An inherited form of male pseudohermaphroditism.In: Bergsma, D. : Genetic Forms of Hypogonadism. New York: National Foundation-March of Dimes (pub.) 1975. Pp. 91-103.

12. Imperato-McGinley, J., Guerrero, L., Gautier, T., Peterson, R. E. Steroid 5-alpha-reductase deficiency in man: an inherited form of male pseudohermaphroditism. Science 186: 1213-1215, 1974. [PubMed: 4432067, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

13. Imperato-McGinley, J., Miller, M., Wilson, J. D., Peterson, R. E., Shackleton, C., Gajdusek, D. C. A cluster of male pseudohermaphrodites with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency in Papua New Guinea. Clin. Endocr. 34: 293-298, 1991. [PubMed: 1831738, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

14. Imperato-McGinley, J., Peterson, R. E., Gautier, T., Sturla, E. Androgens and the evolution of male-gender identity among male pseudohermaphrodites with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. New Eng. J. Med. 300: 1233-1237, 1979. [PubMed: 431680, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

15. Imperato-McGinley, J., Peterson, R. E., Leshin, M., Griffin, J. E., Cooper, G., Draghi, S., Berenyi, M., Wilson, J. D. Steroid 5 alpha-reductase deficiency in a 65-year-old male pseudohermaphrodite: the natural history, ultrastructure of the testes, and evidence for inherited enzyme heterogeneity. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 50: 15-22, 1980. [PubMed: 7350177, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

16. Jakimiuk, A. J., Weitsman, S. R., Magoffin, D. A. 5-alpha-reductase activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 84: 2414-2418, 1999. [PubMed: 10404813, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

17. Jenkins, E. P., Andersson, S., Imperato-McGinley, J., Wilson, J. D., Russell, D. W. Genetic and pharmacological evidence for more than one human steroid 5-alpha-reductase. J. Clin. Invest. 89: 293-300, 1992. [PubMed: 1345916, related citations] [Full Text: Journal of Clinical Investigation, Pubget]

18. Katz, M. D., Kligman, I., Cai, L.-Q., Zhu, Y.-S., Fratianni, C. M., Zervoudakis, I., Rosenwaks, Z., Imperato-McGinley, J. Paternity in intrauterine insemination with sperm from a man with 5-alpha-reductase-2 deficiency. New Eng. J. Med. 336: 994-997, 1997. [PubMed: 9077378, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

19. Komp, D. M. Dr. Imperato-McGinley. (Letter) Lancet 314: 262 only, 1979. Note: Originally Volume II.

20. Leshin, M., Griffin, J. E., Wilson, J. D. 5-Alpha-reductase deficiency: evidence for genetic heterogeneity. (Abstract) Clin. Res. 26: 47A only, 1978.

21. Leshin, M., Griffin, J. E., Wilson, J. D. Hereditary male pseudohermaphroditism associated with an unstable form of 5-alpha-reductase. J. Clin. Invest. 62: 685-691, 1978. [PubMed: 29056, related citations] [Full Text: Journal of Clinical Investigation, Pubget]

22. Makridakis, N. M., Ross, R. K., Pike, M. C., Crocitto, L. E., Kolonel, L. N., Pearce, C. L., Henderson, B. E., Reichardt, J. K. V. Association of mis-sense substitution in SRD5A2 gene with prostate cancer in African-American and Hispanic men in Los Angeles, USA. Lancet 354: 975-978, 1999. [PubMed: 10501358, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

23. Moore, R. J., Griffin, J. E., Wilson, J. D. Diminished 5-alpha-reductase activity in extracts of fibroblasts cultured from patients with familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism, type 2. J. Biol. Chem. 250: 7168-7172, 1975. [PubMed: 240819, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

24. Nordenskjold, A., Ivarsson, S.-A. Molecular characterization of 5-alpha-reductase type 2 deficiency and fertility in a Swedish family. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 83: 3236-3238, 1998. [PubMed: 9745434, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

25. Nordenskjold, A., Magnus, O., Aagenaes, O., Knudtzon, J. Homozygous mutation (A228T) in the 5-alpha-reductase type 2 gene in a boy with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency: genotype-phenotype correlations. Am. J. Med. Genet. 80: 269-272, 1998. [PubMed: 9843052, related citations] [Full Text: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Pubget]

26. Opitz, J. M., Simpson, J. L., Sarto, G. E., Summitt, R. L., New, M., German, J. Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias. Clin. Genet. 3: 1-26, 1972. [PubMed: 5013863, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

27. Peterson, R. E., Imperato-McGinley, J., Gautier, T., Sturla, E. Male pseudohermaphroditism due to steroid 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. Am. J. Med. 62: 170-191, 1977. [PubMed: 835597, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

28. Pinsky, L., Kaufman, M., Straisfeld, C., Zilahi, B., Hall, C. S.-G. 5-Alpha-reductase activity of genital and nongenital skin fibroblasts from patients with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency, androgen insensitivity, or unknown forms of pseudohermaphroditism. Am. J. Med. Genet. 1: 407-416, 1978. [PubMed: 665726, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

29. Price, P., Wass, J. A. H., Griffin, J. E., Leshin, M., Savage, M. O., Large, D. M., Bu'Lock, D. E., Anderson, D. C., Wilson, J. D., Besser, G. M. High dose androgen therapy in male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5-alpha-reductase deficiency and disorders of the androgen receptor. J. Clin. Invest. 74: 1496-1508, 1984. [PubMed: 6480833, related citations] [Full Text: Journal of Clinical Investigation, Pubget]

30. Savage, M. O., Preece, M. A., Jeffcoate, S. L., Ransley, P. G., Rumsby, G., Mansfield, M. D., Williams, D. I. Familial male pseudohermaphroditism due to deficiency of 5-alpha-reductase. Clin. Endocr. 12: 397-406, 1980. [PubMed: 7379320, related citations] [Full Text: Pubget]

31. Simpson, J. L., New, M., Peterson, R. E., German, J. Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias (PPSH) in sibs. Birth Defects Orig. Art. Ser. VII(6): 140-144, 1971.

32. Soderstrom, T. G., Bjelfman, C., Brekkan, E., Ask, B., Egevad, L., Norlen, B. J., Rane, A. Messenger ribonucleic acid levels of steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2 in human prostate predict the enzyme activity. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 86: 855-858, 2001. [PubMed: 11158057, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

33. Thigpen, A. E., Davis, D. L., Gautier, T., Imperato-McGinley, J., Russell, D. W. The molecular basis of steroid 5-alpha-reductase deficiency in a large Dominican kindred. New Eng. J. Med. 327: 1216-1219, 1992. [PubMed: 1406794, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

34. Thigpen, A. E., Davis, D. L., Milatovich, A., Mendonca, B. B., Imperato-McGinley, J., Griffin, J. E., Francke, U., Wilson, J. D., Russell, D. W. The molecular genetics of steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2 deficiency. J. Clin. Invest. 90: 799-809, 1992. [PubMed: 1522235, related citations] [Full Text: Journal of Clinical Investigation, Pubget]

35. Thigpen, A. E., Silver, R. I., Guileyardo, J. M., Casey, M. L., McConnell, J. D., Russell, D. W. Tissue distribution and ontogeny of steroid 5-alpha-reductase isozyme expression. J. Clin. Invest. 92: 903-910, 1993. [PubMed: 7688765, related citations] [Full Text: Journal of Clinical Investigation, Pubget]

36. Vilchis, F., Canto, P., Chavez, B., Ulloa-Aguirre, A., Mendez, J. P. Molecular analysis of the 5-alpha-steroid reductase type 2 gene in a family with deficiency of the enzyme. Am. J. Med. Genet. 69: 69-72, 1997. [PubMed: 9066886, related citations] [Full Text: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Pubget]

37. Walsh, P. C., Madden, J. D., Harrod, M. J., Goldstein, J. L., MacDonald, P. C., Wilson, J. D. Familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism, type 2: decreased dihydrotestosterone formation in pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias. New Eng. J. Med. 291: 944-949, 1974. [PubMed: 4413434, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

38. Wilson, J. D. Personal Communication. Dallas, Texas 10/30/1981.

39. Wilson, J. D., Harrod, M. J., Goldstein, J. L., Hemsell, D. L., MacDonald, P. C. Familial incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism type I: evidence for androgen resistance in a family with the Reifenstein syndrome. New Eng. J. Med. 290: 1097-1103, 1974. [PubMed: 4821173, related citations] [Full Text: Atypon, Pubget]

Contributors: Cassandra L. Kniffin - reorganized : 10/18/2002
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 7/24/2001
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 3/19/2001
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 3/3/2000
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 12/22/1999
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 3/3/1999
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 12/30/1998
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 6/29/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/4/1997
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 5/16/1997
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 9/26/1996
John A. Phillips, III - updated : 9/15/1996
Creation Date: Victor A. McKusick : 6/4/1986
Edit History: terry : 03/24/2009
terry : 9/26/2008
carol : 10/18/2002
carol : 10/18/2002
ckniffin : 10/18/2002
alopez : 7/24/2001
alopez : 3/19/2001
alopez : 2/2/2001
carol : 5/1/2000
mgross : 3/3/2000
mcapotos : 1/7/2000
mcapotos : 1/3/2000
terry : 12/22/1999
mgross : 3/11/1999
mgross : 3/3/1999
carol : 1/4/1999
terry : 12/30/1998
carol : 9/18/1998
dkim : 9/9/1998
dholmes : 6/30/1998
dholmes : 6/29/1998
dholmes : 6/29/1998
mark : 7/2/1997
mark : 6/14/1997
terry : 6/4/1997
mark : 5/16/1997
terry : 5/12/1997
carol : 9/26/1996
carol : 9/19/1996
carol : 9/15/1996
mark : 10/16/1995
carol : 9/8/1994
davew : 8/15/1994
terry : 4/29/1994
warfield : 4/20/1994
mimadm : 3/12/1994