[Human sex skin fibroblast cultures : a useful tool for diagnosis of male pseudohermaphroditism due to target organ unresponsiveness to androgens (author's transl)].

Sex skin fibroblast cultures were reported to constitute a fair model for studying male pseudohermaphroditism (MPH) due to target organ unresponsiveness to androgens. Using this technique, we made the diagnosis of MPH due to steroid 5 alpha-reductase deficiency, complete or partial androgen insensitivity. This technique gave the opportunity to describe an unstable form of 5 alpha-reductase and a thermolability of androgen receptors responsible for MPH. This method permitted a better understanding of disorders of male sex differentiation.