• PMID: 10599709
• Gene Name: DAX1
• Condition: X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita
• Association: The study concludes that 1) affected males with AHC/HH may have an intrinsic defect in spermatogenesis that is not responsive to gonadotropin therapy; 2) female carriers of DAX1 mutations may express the phenotype of delayed puberty; and 3) although affec
• Population size: 5
• Population details: 5 (2 patient, 3 heterozygous family number )
• Age: 27 yrs
• Sex: Male, Female
• Infertility type: Male infertility, Female infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita: a mutation in DAX1 expands the phenotypic spectrum in males and females

Seminara SB, Achermann JC, Genel M, Jameson JL, Crowley WF Jr.

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) is a disorder associated with primary adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). The gene responsible for X-linked AHC, DAX1, encodes a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. We studied an extended kindred with AHC and HH in which two males (the proband and his nephew) were affected with a nucleotide deletion (501delA). The proband's mother, sister, and niece were heterozygous for this frameshift mutation. At age 27 yr, after 7 yr of low dose hCG therapy, the proband underwent a testicular biopsy revealing rare spermatogonia and Leydig cell hyperplasia. Despite steadily progressive doses of hCG and Pergonal administered over a 3-yr period, the proband remained azoospermic. The proband's mother, sister (obligate carrier), and niece all had a history of delayed puberty, with menarche occurring at ages 17-18 yr. Baseline patterns of pulsatile gonadotropin secretion and gonadotropin responsiveness to exogenous pulsatile GnRH were examined in the affected males. LH, FSH, and free alpha-subunit were determined during 12.5-24 h of frequent blood sampling (every 10 min). Both patients then received pulsatile GnRH (25 ng/kg) sc every 2 h for 6-7 days. Gonadotropin responses to a single GnRH pulse iv were monitored daily to assess the pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH. In the proband, FSH and LH levels demonstrated a subtle, but significant, response to GnRH over the week of pulsatile GnRH therapy. Free alpha-subunit levels demonstrated an erratic pattern of secretion at baseline and no significant response to pulsatile GnRH. We conclude that 1) affected males with AHC/HH may have an intrinsic defect in spermatogenesis that is not responsive to gonadotropin therapy; 2) female carriers of DAX1 mutations may express the phenotype of delayed puberty; and 3) although affected individuals display minimal responses to pulsatile GnRH, as observed in other AHC kindreds, subtle differences in gonadotropin patterns may nevertheless exist between affected individuals within a kindred. FAU - Seminara, S B AU - Seminara SB AD - Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA. seminara.stephanie@mgh.harvard.edu FAU - Achermann, J C AU - Achermann JC FAU - Genel, M AU - Genel M FAU - Jameson, J L AU - Jameson JL