PROTAMINE GENES POLYMORPHISMS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INCIDENCE OF OLIGOZOOSPERMIA AND ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA IN IRAQI PATIENTS.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms are considered as one of causes of male infertility. The replacement of histones with protamines led to proper sperm chromatin packaging which associated with male fertility. The defects of protamine genes have been reported to cause sperm DNA damage and male infertility. In this study, the relationship between protamines genes SNPs that include PRM1 (C321A) and PRM2 (C248T) were studied in 30 oligozoospermic, 30 asthenozoospermic patients and 30 apparently healthy subjects. Analysis of these SNPs was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and PCR sequencing. As related with PRM1 (C321A), CA genotype frequency was significantly (p<0.05) higher in severe oligozoospermia group than apparently healthy control group, higher in control group than in asthenozoospermia group and higher in severe oligozoospermia group than in asthenozoospermia group. In contrast, AA genotype frequency was significantly (p<0.05) higher in control group than severe oligozoospermia group and in asthenozoospermia group than in severe oligozoospermia group. As related with PRM2 (C248T) only CT genotypes (100%) were found in all samples studied. In PRM1 gene, CA genotype of C321A SNP was associated with severe oligozoospermia rather than asthenozoospermia whereas there is no association between C248T SNP of PRM2 gene and the incidence of both oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia in Iraqi patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]