Lack of association between two 367 G>C and 386 C>T mutations in NR5A1 gene with male infertility

The NR5A1 gene, a member of the nuclear receptor family, is a key transcriptional regulator of genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-steroidogenic axis. Some mutations in this gene such as c.392C>T, c.571C>T, c.634G>A and c.712G>A may be associated with abnormal spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of 368G>C transversion and 386C>T transition in NR5A1 gene with male infertility. In a case-control study, blood samples were collected from 70 infertile men and 75 fertile men as control group. After DNA extraction from case and control samples, the genotypes of 367G>C and 386C>T in NR5A1 gene were detected by PCR-RFLP. Regard to 368G>C transversion, our statistical analysis revealed that GC genotype (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 0.46-6.26, P= 0.43) and CC genotype (OR: 3.38, 95%CI: 0.13-84.41, P= 0.46) is not associated with idiopathic male infertility. Also C allele (OR: 2.21, 95%CI: 0.65-7.52, P= 0.20) is not associated with male infertility. Regarding to 386C>T, only one sample in control group was detected as CT genotype whereas other samples were CC genotype. Therefore CT genotype (OR: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.01-8.79, P= 0.52) is not associated with male infertility. Our finding showed that aforementioned substitutions are not appropriate biomarkers for idiopathic male infertility. Therefore it is important to study the association of other single nucleotide mutations with male infertility.