[Normal sexual differentiation: molecular genetic and endocrinology]

Analysis of the sexual determination and differentiation factors has progressed by the important findings made in biochemistry (hormonal assays, determination of the receptor concentration), in cellular and molecular endocrinology (mechanism of the hormonal action) and in genetics (identification, isolation and cloning of the genes implied in the sexual determination and differentiation pathways). We first describe the basis of sexual determination and differentiation, and then we analyze the different roles of SRY gene, encoding for the testis determining factor, androgen receptor gene, 5 alpha-reductase gene and anti-Müllerian hormone gene.