Relation between ape1 gene -141t>g polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility

Infertility is defined as a lack of conception in a couple that has been having unprotected intercourse, for one year. Despite enormous progresses in the understanding of human reproductive physiology, the underlying causes of male infertility remains undefined in about 50.0% of cases, which are referred to as idiopathic infertility. Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (ApE1) is a multifunctional protein that has an important role in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. ApE1 -141 T>G polymorphism is located in the promoter region. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between ApE1 -141T>G polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility.

In this case-control study, Samples were collected from 90 patients diagnosed with idiopathic male infertility and also from 60 control subjects. Collected samples were genotyped by allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR).

There was significantly association between -141T>G polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility (p = 0.022).

The polymorphism 141T>G can be associated with male infertility. However, further studies are needed to confirm the results.