Alteration of ERβ gene RsaI polymorphism may contribute to reduced fertilization rate and embryonic developmental competence.
This paper aims to determine the possible role of estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) gene RsaI polymorphism on sperm fertility and early embryonic development in humans. Three groups of Chinese men were recruited: in vitro fertilization (IVF) group, including 374 couples who underwent conventional IVF; intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) group, including 294 couples who underwent an ICSI procedure using ejaculated sperm; and azoospermic group, consisting of 197 couples who underwent ICSI using either testis or epididymis sperm. RsaI polymorphism in the ERβ gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique; fertilization and high-quality embryo rates were evaluated for each group. In each group, no significant differences were found in the overall rates of fertilization and high-quality embryos among GG, AG and AA genotypes. However, the proportion of cycles possessing a satisfactory high-quality embryo rate with the AA genotype was significantly lower than that in the wild-type GG genotype from each group. These results demonstrated that sperm possessing the ERβ RsaI A genotype may have reduced fertilization ability and decreased early embryonic developmental potential, which could directly or indirectly contribute to the low fertilization rate and early embryonic developmental arrest in some cases.
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 1000191, China.
Qiu-Fang
QF
Zhang
Huai-Liang
HL
Feng
Lan
L
Zhao
Ping
P
Liu
Li
L
Li
Jie
J
Yan
Jie
J
Qiao
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D017931:DNA Primers; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta