We describe the identification of point mutations in the androgen receptor gene in five Brazilian patients with female assignment and behavior. The eight exons of the gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed for single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) to detect the mutations. Direct sequencing of the mutant PCR products demonstrated single transitions in three of these cases: G<FONT FACE="Symbol">®</font>A in case 1, within exon C, changing codon 615 from Arg to His; G<FONT FACE="Symbol">®</font>A in case 2, within exon E, changing codon 752 from Arg to Gln, and C<FONT FACE="Symbol">®</font>T in case 3, within exon B, but without amino acid change.
androgen receptor gene; gene mutations; androgen insensitivity syndromes; male pseudohermaphroditism
