title: Association between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphisms and reproductive parameters in young men from the general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) regulates gametogenesis through binding to its receptor (FSHR). In women, the Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser polymorphisms in the FSHR gene affect reproductive function, but it is not clear whether they have any impact on spermatogenesis and have mainly been investigated in infertile men of varying ages. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine whether these genetic variants of the FSHR influence reproductive parameters in men from the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men aged 17-20 years (n=313) were genotyped. All men provided a semen sample and a blood sample for hormonal measurements and DNA extraction. They underwent a medical examination and analyses of possible associations between Thr307Ala and Asn680Ser polymorphisms and hormonal and sperm parameters were subsequently carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men homozygous for Thr307/Asn680 had a lower mean serum FSH concentration (3.07 vs. 3.65 IU/l, P=0.009), and higher mean serum estradiol (94.0 vs. 86.1 pmol/l, P=0.001), sex hormone-binding globulin (33.6 vs. 31.3 nmol/l, P<0.0001), and total testosterone (19.1 vs.17.9 nmol/l, P<0.0001) concentrations compared with men with other genotypes. In addition, sperm concentrations (71.9 × 10 vs. 70.8 × 10/ml, P=0.040) and the total sperm counts were higher (212 × 10 vs. 206 × 10, P<0.0001) and their testes volumes were larger (left: 11.5 vs. 11.0 ml, P<0.0001; right: 12.4 vs. 11.6 ml, P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As in women, the results from the present study indicate that variants of the FSHR influence reproductive parameters in men.
authors: Molecular Genetic Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Ida.Lindgren@med.lu.se
authors: Ida
authors: I
authors: Lindgren
authors: Aleksander
authors: A
authors: Giwercman
authors: Jonatan
authors: J
authors: Axelsson
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Lundberg Giwercman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011962:Receptors, FSH; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone