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Synergistic effect of follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor and androgen receptor gene variants on semen quality
Author(s) -
Lazaros L.,
Xita N.,
Takenaka A.,
Sofikitis N.,
Makrydimas G.,
Stefos T.,
Kosmas I.,
Zikopoulos K.,
Hatzi E.,
Georgiou I.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12021
Subject(s) - androgen receptor , allele , biology , endocrinology , semen , male infertility , sperm motility , sperm , follicle stimulating hormone , medicine , semen quality , genotype , andrology , androgen , follicle stimulating hormone receptor , gene , genetics , hormone , infertility , luteinizing hormone , prostate cancer , cancer , pregnancy
Summary Follicle‐stimulating hormone ( FSH ), interacting with its receptor ( FSHR ), participates in the production of spermatozoa and androgens. Androgens exert their effects on male sex determination, development and sperm production by binding to androgen receptor ( AR ). In the present study, we sought to explore the potential synergistic effects of FSHR and AR gene variants on sperm quality. 200 oligozoospermic and 250 normozoospermic men were examined. DNA was extracted from spermatozoa, and the FSHR 307 ( T/A ), FSHR 680 ( N/S ) and AR ( CAG ) n polymorphisms were genotyped. Their parallel analysis revealed six combined genotypes. A gradual reduction of sperm motility, from long AR allele‐ T hr307 T hr/Asn680Asn carriers to long AR allele ‐ A la307 A la/ S er680 S er carriers and from short AR allele‐ T hr307 T hr/ A sn680 A sn carriers to short AR allele ‐ A la307 A la/ S er680 S er carriers was revealed in normozoospermic men ( P < 0.001). Similar associations were observed in oligozoospermic men ( P < 0.001). In our series, the synergism of the long AR alleles with the FSHRT hr307/ A sn680 allelic variant was associated with increased sperm motility, while the synergism of the short AR alleles with the FSHRA la307/ S er680 allelic variant was associated with decreased motility, supporting the significance of these genes in semen quality.