title: Leptin and leptin-receptor polymorphisms in fertile and infertile men.
abstract: The association of leptin (LEP) -2548G/A and/or leptin receptor (LEPR) Gln223Arg polymorphisms with male infertility and plasma FSH, LH, and testosterone (T) levels was examined. The genotypes and allele frequency distributions of LEP -2548G/A and LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphisms were investigated in 150 fertile and 150 infertile men by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Also, plasma levels of FSH, LH, and T were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Frequencies of AA, AG and GG genotypes of LEP-2548G/A polymorphism were statistically different in fertile and infertile men (p=0.012). The AG genotype showed a protective effect which could decrease risk of male infertility about 3 fold (p = 0.004). We did not observe any differences in frequencies of LEPR Gln223Arg alleles and genotypes between groups (p > 0.05). Sperm counts from infertile men with the AG and GG genotypes of the LEP polymorphism were significantly higher than AA genotype (p<0.05). Moreover, infertile men who carried the RR genotype of LEPR showed a statistically higher percentage of sperm with progressive motility than individuals with other genotypes (p = 0.004). There was no correlation between different combinations of LEP and LEPR genotypes and LH, FSH, and T levels (p > 0.05). Our study suggests that the LEP -2548G/A polymorphism may play a role in male fertility and the AG genotype may have a protective effect through increasing sperm counts. The distribution of genotypes of LEP -2548G/A polymorphism are different in fertile and infertile males and may be a useful tool in evaluation of male infertility.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LEP: leptin; LEPR: leptin receptor; T: testosterone; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; LH: luteinizing hormone.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry , School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khosropour
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology , Payam-e Noor University , Isfahan , Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamidi
authors.affiliation: c Women's Reproductive Health Research Center , Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry , School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khodadadi
authors.affiliation: d Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Department of Epidemiology , School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , Iran.
authors.forename: Manoochehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karami
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology , Payam-e Noor University , Isfahan , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazilati
authors.affiliation: e Fertility and Infertility Research Center , Kermanshah University of Medical Science , Kermanshah , Iran.
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaisi-Raygani
authors.affiliation: f Urology and Nephrology Research Center , Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , Iran.
authors.forename: Heidar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavilani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D065840:Protective Factors; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013076:Sperm Count; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
keywords: Genetic polymorphism; infertility; leptin; leptin receptor; male; reproduction