The association of 4a4b polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with the sperm morphology in Korean infertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between three polymorphism sites of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS; -786T>C, 4a4b, and 894G>T) with nonobstructive male infertility.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
University-based hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-one nonobstructive infertile men in azoospermia (n = 184) or ejaculate semen (n = 187) group were enrolled in this study. Two hundred twenty fertile men who had at least one child without any history of requiring assisted reproductive technology were included as the nationwide control group.


METHODS
Semen analysis according to the World Health Organization guidelines and cytogenetic and Y chromosome microdeletion assay.


METHODS
Three eNOS polymorphisms were investigated to assess its association with male infertility by pyrosequencing and gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
The statistical analysis of three eNOS polymorphisms showed no significant association between the polymorphisms of the control and infertile group. We investigated the sperm parameters depending on the genotypes of the ejaculate semen group. The sperm morphology was found to be significantly associated with the 4a4b polymorphism of eNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase may be important to sperm morphology in infertile men.
Functional Genomics Lab, Christian Humanism Academia Research Institute, Bundang Campus, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea.
Yeo-Jin
YJ
Yun
Jung-Hoon
JH
Park
Seung-Hun
SH
Song
Suman
S
Lee
D053713:Azoospermia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III