Evaluation of GPx1 Pro198Leu polymorphism in idiopathic male infertility

Infertility is defined as failure to conceive a child after 1 year of unprotected regular sexual intercourse. Approximately half of all cases of infertility are caused by factors related to the male. In nearly 50% of infertile men it is not possible to determine the cause of infertility and this situation has been defined as unexplained or idiopathic. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of male infertility. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance in free radicals and antioxidant defense mechanisms of the body. Genetic variations in the antioxidant gene coding for GPx enzyme may lead to decreased or impaired regulation of its enzymatic activity and alter reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification. We have investigated the possible association between polymorphism GPx1 Pro198Leu and idiopathic male infertility. One hundred patients with idiopathic male infertility and one hundred fifty healthy volunteers were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Genotyping for the GPx1 Pro198Leu polymorphism was done by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using ApaI. The genotype frequencies were 11% (Leu/Leu), 76% (Pro/Leu) and 13% (Pro/Pro) in the patient group and 8.7% (Leu/Leu), 67.3% (Pro/Leu) and 24% (Pro/Pro) in the control group. The genotype and allele frequencies of GPx1 Pro198Leu did not differ between the patient group and the control group ( P = 0.09 and P = 0.1, respectively). In conclusion, there is no correlation between idiopathic male infertility and the GPx1 codon Pro198Leu polymorphism. Further studies are needed to investigate other genetic factors that influence the development of idiopathic male infertility.