Prenatal diagnosis and genetic analysis of a female fetus with 46, XX and positive SRY gene / 中华围产医学杂志

We report a case of a pregnant woman with 46,XX karyotype and positive sex-determining region on the Y chromosome ( SRY) gene and her female fetus. Ultrasound examination at 12 +6 gestational weeks indicated a thickened fetal nuchal translucency, and 46, XX with a positive SRY gene was detected in the fetus through quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction and amniotic fluid karyotype. However, the ultrasound showed that the gender of the fetus was female, which was inconsistent with the phenotype of male syndrome with 46, XX combining positive SRY gene. The fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the short arm of the Y chromosome translocated to the long arm of one of the X chromosomes, namely Yp11.3-Xq28. In addition, a copy number variation at Yp11.31p11.2 copy (about 1 MB) was found by chromosomal microarray analysis, which validated the result of FISH and was consistent with the mother. After genetic counseling, the parents chose to continue the pregnancy to full term, and no abnormalities were found in the infant during the follow-up.

Paciente masculino con cariotipo 46 XX negativo para el gen SRY y sin ambigüedad genital: reporte de un caso / Male patient 46, XX SRY -negative and unambiguous genitalia: A case report

En la mayoría de los casos, la diferenciación sexual masculina ocurre con la participación del gen SRY. Sin embargo, se pueden presentar otros genotipos excepcionales, como en el caso que se presenta en este reporte. Se trata de un paciente adulto de sexo masculino atendido en el Servicio de Paternidades del Instituto de Genética de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Se le hicieron los análisis del gen de la amelogenina y de repeticiones cortas en tándem (Short Tandem Repeat, STR) específicas para el gen SRY con estuches comerciales de identificación humana, así como los de cariotipo convencional e hibridación in situ fluorescente del SRY, y el estudio de microdeleciones del cromosoma Y mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Se le hizo la evaluación clínica y se le brindó asesoramiento genético. El paciente no presentaba ambigüedad genital, su cariotipo era 46 XX, y el perfil molecular era negativo para el gen SRY y positivo para el ZFY. Se le diagnosticó un trastorno de diferenciación sexual 46 XX testicular no sindrómico, una rara condición genética. Solo el 20 % de los pacientes con este diagnóstico son negativos para SRY y exhiben perfiles moleculares diversos. La información disponible parece indicar que el ZFY está relacionado con la diferenciación sexual masculina, aún en ausencia del gen SRY.

In most cases, male sexual differentiation occurs with SRY gene mediation. However, exceptional genotypes have been identified, as shown in this paper. This was a male adult patient seen at the Servicio de Paternidades, Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. The following procedures were carried out: Amelogenin gene and short tandem repeat analyses using human identification commercial kits, conventional karyotype, SRY fluorescent in situ hybridization, PCR analysis for Y chromosome microdeletions, clinical evaluation, and genetic counseling. We present an adult male with unambiguous genitalia, karyotype 46,XX, and an SRY negative and ZFY positive molecular profile. The diagnosis of nonsyndromic 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development (DSD) -a rare genetic condition- was established. Only 20 % of similarly diagnosed patients are SRY negative and exhibit diverse molecular profiles. Until now, available evidence seems to indicate that, even in the absence of SRY, the ZFY factor is involved in male sexual differentiation.

Pathologic features on gonadal changes of sexual developmental disorders in children / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the pathologic features of gonadal tissues of disorders of sexual development (DSD) in children.@*Methods@#Fifty-three cases of gonadal developmental disorders were collected from July 2015 to August 2017 at Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center. Clinical manifestations, karyotypes, sex hormone levels, ultrasound imaging, histology and immunophenotype of gonadal tissues were analyzed.@*Results@#The age of patients ranged from 7 months to 17 years with an average of (50.7 ± 47.1) months. Social genders of the patients included 32 males and 21 females. Forty-eight patients had abnormal sex hormone levels. Clinical presentations included: toward female genitalia in 25 cases, male genitalia tendency in 17 cases and ambiguous external genitalia in 11 cases. Hypospadias was seen in 31 cases and short stature was seen in 8 cases. Chromosomal karyotyping of peripheral blood revealed 23 cases of sex chromosome disorders, 22 cases of 46 XY disorders, of which 3 cases were 5α-reductase deficiency and 8 cases of 46 XX disorders. Ultrasound examination showed cryptorchidism in 30 cases, including 16 cases of unilateral, 14 cases of bilateral and 1 case presenting a huge pelvic tumor. A total of 97 gonadal tissues from 53 cases of DSD were examined, including 9 cases of unilateral and 44 cases of bilateral gonads. Microscopically, 55 gonads (56.7%) showed dysplastic testes including 17 unilateral and 19 bilateral gonads. Fourteen were streak gonads (14.4%) including 8 unilateral and 3 bilateral gonadal tissues. Nine streak gonad with epithelial cord-like structures (9.3%) were found, of which 5 were unilateral and 2 were bilateral lesions. Seven gonads were ovotestis (7.2%), unilateral in 5 cases (the other side of the gonads of ovary in 4 cases, 1 case of dysplastic testes) and bilateral in 1 case. Seven gonads showed follicular-rich ovarian tissue (7.2%). One case showed bilateral dysplastic testes with gonadoblastoma and ectopic adrenal cortex. One case of streak gonad showed epithelial cord-like structures and undifferentiated glandular tissue embedded in malignant mixed germ cell tumors (mixed gonadoblastoma, dysgerminoma, mature teratoma and yolk sac tumor). One case had testicular microlithiasis. Uterus and fallopian tube structures were found in 11 cases. Immunohistochemical stains were performed in 15 cases. D2-40, PLAP and CKIT were expressed in germ cells and Calretinin, WT1 and inhibin were positive in Setoli cells. SALL4 and OCT3/4 were positive in 3 cases. Inhibin highlighted interstitial Leydig cells in 2 cases. GPC3 was positive in yolk sac tumor component.@*Conclusions@#Gonadal dysgenesis presents a broad spectrum of gonadal phenotypes with variable degrees of differentiation. The development of bilateral gonadal tissues has certain variability. Chromosomal karyotypes have no correlation with gonadal phenotypes. Accurate histopathologic diagnosis of gonadal dysgenesis plays an important role in the treatment and prognosis of the patient.

Ten cases with 46, XX testicular disorder of sex development: single center experience

ABSTRACT Objective To present clinical, chromosomal and hormonal features of ten cases with SRY-positive 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development who were admitted to our infertility clinic. Cases and Methods Records of the cases who were admitted to our infertility clinic between 2004 and 2015 were investigated. Ten 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development cases were detected. Clinical, hormonal and chromosomal assessments were analized. Results Mean age at diagnosis was 30.4, mean body height was 166.9cm. Hormonal data indicated that the patients had a higher FSH, LH levels, lower TT level and normal E2, PRL levels. Karyotype analysis of all patients confirmed 46,XX karyotype, and FISH analysis showed that SRY gene was positive and translocated to Xp. The AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions were absent in 8 cases. In one case AZFb and AZFc incomplete deletion and normal AZFa region was present. In the other one all AZF regions were present. Conclusion Gonadal development disorders such as SRY-positive 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development can be diagnosed in infertility clinics during infertility work-up. Although these cases had no chance of bearing a child, they should be protected from negative effects of testosterone deficiency by replacement therapies.

Utilidad clínica de la medición de la hormona antimülleriana en niños / Clinical utility of anti-mullerian hormone measurement in children

Resumen: la hormona antimülleriana, inicialmente denominada sustancia inhibitoria mülleriana, es una glicoproteína homodimérica de 12,5 kDa, que pertenece a la familia del factor de crecimiento transformante beta (TGF-ß) y desempeña un papel crucial en la diferenciación sexual masculina al favorecer la regresión de los conductos de Müller. Dado que su producción en el varón es principalmente por las células de Sertoli inmaduras, en las últimas décadas ha crecido su utilidad más allá de la evaluación de la función ovárica y tratamientos de fertilidad en las mujeres, lo que ha permitido evaluar en el varón la función testicular y los estados de hipogonadismo, trastornos de la diferenciación sexual, pubertad patológica, criptorquidia, entre otras condiciones clínicas revisadas en este manuscrito. Además, esta revisión describe el rol fisiológico de la hormona antimülleriana en los testículos prepuberales y las pruebas de laboratorio disponibles para su medición. (AU)

Abstract: The antimullerian hormone, initially referred as mullerian inhibitory substance, is a 12.5 kDa homodimeric glycoprotein, belonging to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) family that playing a crucial role in male sexual differentiation by favoring regression of the Mullerian ducts. Since their production in the male is mainly by the immature Sertoli cells, in the last decades its usefulness has growth beyond the evaluation of the ovarian function and female fertility treatments, which has allowed evaluating the testicular function in male and affections such as hypogonadism, disorders of sexual differentiation, pathological puberty, cryptorchidism and others clinical conditions reviewed in this manuscript. In addition, this review describes the physiological role of the antimüllerian hormone in the prepubertal testes and the laboratory tests available for its measurement. (AU)