Possible association of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism with premature ejaculation in a Turkish population.
We evaluated the genotypes of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) in patients with premature ejaculation (PE) to determine the role of genetic factors in the etiopathogenesis of PE and possibly to identify the patient subgroups. A total of 70 PE patients and 70 controls were included in this study. All men were heterosexual, had no other disorders and were either married or in a stable relationship. PE was defined as ejaculation that occurred within 1 min of vaginal intromission. Genomic DNA from patients and controls was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction, and allelic variations of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were determined. The 5-HTTLPR (serotonin transporter promoter gene) genotypes in PE patients vs. controls were distributed as follows: L/L 16% vs. 17%, L/S 30% vs. 53% and S/S 54% vs. 28%. We examined the haplotype analysis for three polymorphisms of the 5-HTTLPR gene: LL, LS and SS. The appropriateness of the allele frequencies in the 5-HTTLPR gene was analyzed by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the chi2-test. The short (S) allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene was significantly more frequent in PE patients than in controls (P<0.05). We suggest that the 5-HTTLPR gene plays a role in the pathophysiology of all primary PE cases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism and patient subgroup (such as primary and secondary PE) responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as ethnic differences.
Ozbek
Emin
E
Department of Urology, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Vakif Gureba Research and Education Hospital, Istanbul 34095, Turkey. ozbekemin@hotmail.com
Tasci
Ali I
AI
Tugcu
Volkan
V
Ilbey
Yusuf O
YO
Simsek
Abdulmuttalip
A
Ozcan
Levent
L
Polat
Emre C
EC
Koksal
Vedat
V
D000328:Adult; D004542:Ejaculation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins