![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
The association of leptin (LEP) -2548G/A and/or leptin receptor (LEPR) Gln223Arg polymorphisms with male infertility and plasma FSH, LH, and testosterone (T) levels was examined. The genotypes and allele frequency distributions of LEP -2548G/A and LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphisms were investigated in 150 fertile and 150 infertile men by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Also, plasma levels of FSH, LH, and T were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Frequencies of AA, AG and GG genotypes of LEP-2548G/A polymorphism were statistically different in fertile and infertile men (p=0.012). The AG genotype showed a protective effect which could decrease risk of male infertility about 3 fold (p = 0.004). We did not observe any differences in frequencies of LEPR Gln223Arg alleles and genotypes between groups (p > 0.05). Sperm counts from infertile men with the AG and GG genotypes of the LEP polymorphism were significantly higher than AA genotype (p<0.05). Moreover, infertile men who carried the RR genotype of LEPR showed a statistically higher percentage of sperm with progressive motility than individuals with other genotypes (p = 0.004). There was no correlation between different combinations of LEP and LEPR genotypes and LH, FSH, and T levels (p > 0.05). Our study suggests that the LEP -2548G/A polymorphism may play a role in male fertility and the AG genotype may have a protective effect through increasing sperm counts. The distribution of genotypes of LEP -2548G/A polymorphism are different in fertile and infertile males and may be a useful tool in evaluation of male infertility.
Abbreviations: LEP: leptin; LEPR: leptin receptor; T: testosterone; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; LH: luteinizing hormone
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. We thank Dr. H. Mazaheri-Laghab for helping in language editing.
Declaration of interests
The authors are academic members or postgraduate students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences or Payam-e Noor University. The authors are not directly funded by the Government of Iran.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Saeid Khosropour
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Maryam Hamidi
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Amir Fattahi
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Iraj Khodadadi
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Manoochehr Karami
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Mohammad Fazilati
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Asad Vaisi-Raygani
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.
Heidar Tavilani
Designed the study, wrote the article and contributed in the critical revision: HT, IK, MF; Contributed in sample collection and performing experiments: SK, MH, AF; Statistical analysis: AVR,MK.