Relationship between premature ejaculation and genetic polymorphisms of the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3).
OBJECTIVE
• To investigate the possible relationships between premature ejaculation (PE) polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene (SLC6A3, DAT1), which has a polymorphic 40 base pair (40 bp) variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) sequence in the 3'-untranslated region (3' VNTR).


METHODS
• Cohorts of 270 Iranian men with PE and 266 age-matched healthy Iranian subjects were genotyped for the DAT1-VNTR polymorphism.


RESULTS
• The 10-repeat allele frequencies were similar in the control (90.2%) and patient groups (88.5%) (P = 0.8). • A statistically significant association was observed between the presence of the nine-repeat allele and PE (chi-squared test = 4.346, odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57-3.15, P = 0.026). • The frequencies of the 9/10 genotype were also significantly higher in the PE patients than in normal controls (chi-squared test = 4.466, OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.52-3.21, P = 0.028). The presence of the seven-repeat allele had a protective effect against PE (chi-squared test = 2.324, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.47-0.89, P = 0.034).


CONCLUSIONS
• The findings of the present study suggest that DAT1-VNTR polymorphisms resulting in higher dopamine concentrations were associated with vulnerability to PE. • Further studies are needed to replicate these results and to evaluate the role of inconsistency in the DAT genes and how this affects the development of PE.
Private Practice of Urology and Andrology, Tehran, Iran. safarinejad@urologist.md
Mohammad Reza
MR
Safarinejad
D000328:Adult; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000235:genetics*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human