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.
Material &Methods: 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)
Result: 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%).
Conclusion: 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.