title: TNFalpha -308 C-->t and -863 C-->a polymorphisms and spermiogram characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic factors may play a role in male infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective case-control study, we assessed the allele and genotype frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms, detected by PCR of sperm DNA, of 577 Caucasian men recruited in an infertility clinic. Semen sampling was performed and spermiogram results were correlated to genetic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allele frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms were not significantly different between non-normozoospermic (n = 447) and normozoospermic (n = 130) men [758/894 (85%) and 134/894 (15%) vs. 213/269 (82%) and 43/260 (18%), p = 0.5, odds ratio (OR) 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-1.76, and 749/894 (84%) and 145/894 (16%) vs. 212/260 (82%) and 48/260 (18%), p = 0.4, OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.78-1.76, respectively]. The genotype frequencies of the TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms were also not significantly different between non-normozoospermic and normozoospermic men. In addition, mutant alleles were not overrepresented in subgroups of men with the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia syndrome and asthenozoospermia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TNFalpha -308 C-->T and -863 C-->A polymorphisms are not associated with spermiogram characteristics and do not represent molecular markers for genetic susceptibility to male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Eva-Katrin
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Bentz
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Denschlag
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Clemens B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tempfer
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha