The association of aromatase ( XXXX ) gene variants with sperm concentration and motility.

@entity1 @entity4819 @entity3800 @entity2931
The irreversible transformation of @entity3800 into @entity2931 is catalysed by cytochrome P450 aromatase. In the present study, we explored the contribution of the (TTTA)(n) polymorphism in the aromatase gene ( @entity4819 ) to sperm concentration and motility. Ninety normozoospermic and 60 oligospermic @entity1 were examined during infertility examinations. DNA was extracted from spermatozoa, and the @entity4819 (TTTA)(n) polymorphism was genotyped by PCR. Genotype analysis revealed six @entity4819 (TTTA)(n) alleles with 7-12 repeats. The allelic distribution of the @entity4819 (TTTA)(n) polymorphism differed between normozoospermic and oligospermic @entity1 (P<0.01). Oligospermic @entity1 less frequently had long @entity4819 alleles than did normozoospermic @entity1 (25 and 37.8%, respectively; P<0.02). The higher frequency of short @entity4819 alleles in oligospermic @entity1 compared to normozoospermic @entity1 (43.3 and 28.3%, respectively; P<0.01) was primarily due to the distribution of the @entity4819 (TTTA)(7) allele. The @entity4819 (TTTA)(7) allele was associated with lower sperm concentration in normozoospermic @entity1 (P<0.01) and in the total study population (P<0.01); it was also associated with lower sperm motility in normozoospermic @entity1 (P<0.05) and in the total study population (P<0.01). In conclusion, the @entity4819 (TTTA)(7) allele probably impairs aromatase activity, which in turn alters aromatase and @entity2931 levels in the testis, leading to decreased sperm concentration and motility. These findings support the significance of cytochrome P450 aromatase in @entity1 spermatogenesis and consequently in semen quality.
