title: CAG repeat length in androgen-receptor gene and reproductive variables in fertile and infertile men.
abstract: Several reports implicated a relation between the trinucleotide (CAG) repeat length in the androgen-receptor gene and male infertility, whereas others failed to find an association. We investigated the CAG repeat length in relation to sperm production and reproductive hormones in 119 infertile men and 110 men with proven fertility. We found no difference in the distribution of CAG repeat lengths between the groups and no association with reproductive parameters. This finding suggests that, within the normal range of 14-33 repeats, there is no biological link between the CAG repeat length and fertility. This lack of association was comfirmed by an analysis of the data from all previously published European studies (in total 674 infertile men and 660 controls).
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rajpert-De Meyts
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leffers
authors.forename: Jørgen H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Anne Grethe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Niels E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Skakkebaek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013076:Sperm Count; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen