ASSOCIATION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE M1 AND T1 POLYMORPHISMS WITH SEVERE OLIGOZOOSPERMIA

Male factors account for 20%-50% of cases of infertility and male infertility due to severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia has been associated with a number of genetic risk factors. Severe oligozoospermia was defined as a concentration of less than 5×106 sperm/ml. The aim of this study was to examine whether an association exists between glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes polymorphism and severe oligozoospermia. This case-control study was conducted on 103 subjects, including 51 infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and 52 fertile men serving as controls. Blood samples were collected from patients and healthy individuals and used for isolation of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The polymorphisms were analyzed using multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (multiplex-PCR) technique. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher exact test, and independent t-test. (P < 0.05) The frequency of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were observed to be higher in infertile men with severe oligozoospermia (GSTT1=41.18% and GSTM1=27.45%) in comparison with the fertile men (GSTT1=13.46% and GSTM1=9.62%). These differences were statistically significant. The results of this study suggest a possible positive effect of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes on the spermatogenesis process of the testis.