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Polymorphisms of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in idiopathic, infertile Brazilian men: A case–control study
Author(s) -
Bianco Bianca,
Peluso Carla,
Gava Marcello Machado,
GhirelliFilho Milton,
Lipay Monica Vannucci Nunes,
Lipay Marco Aurélio,
Christofolini Denise Maria,
Barbosa Caio Parente
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.21365
Subject(s) - biology , estrogen receptor , estrogen receptor alpha , azoospermia , male infertility , haplotype , genotype , medicine , estrogen receptor beta , estrogen , endocrinology , infertility , genetics , andrology , gene , breast cancer , pregnancy , cancer
Abstract Estrogen plays an important role in the human reproductive system and its action is mediated mainly by two specific receptors: α (ERα) and β (ERβ). There are polymorphic variants in both ER genes, and studies showed their association with reproductive outcomes. We aimed to determine the distribution of ERα and ERβ gene polymorphisms in idiopathic, infertile Brazilian patients in a case–control study comprising 187 idiopathic, infertile Brazilian men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 78) or severe oligozoospermia (SO, n = 109) and 216 fertile men. Detection of ERα ( Pvu II and Xba I) and ERβ ( Alu I and Rsa I) gene polymorphisms were performed using TaqMan PCR. The results were analyzed statically, and a P ‐value < 0.05 was considered significant. Single‐marker analysis revealed that neither Pvu II nor Xba I polymorphisms of the ERα gene were associated either with NOA group ( P = 0.662 and P = 0.527, respectively) or SO group ( P = 0.777 and P = 1.0, respectively). Regarding ERβ polymorphisms, no statistical difference was observed between the Alu I polymorphism and NOA group compared to controls ( P = 1.0) or between SO group and controls ( P = 0.423). We found similar results with the Rsa I polymorphism. Statistical analysis did not reveal a difference between NOA ( P = 0.740) and SO ( P = 0.920) groups compared to controls. Combined genotypes of ERα and ERβ polymorphisms did not identify a haplotype associated with idiopathic infertility. Thus, in the Brazilian population, genetic variations in both estrogen receptors alpha ( Pvu II and Xba I) and beta ( Alu I and Rsa I) were not relevant to idiopathic infertility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:665–672, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.