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Taste receptor polymorphisms and male infertility
M Gentiluomo1, L Crifasi2, A Luddi2
1Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Luca Ghini, 13, Pisa 56126, Italy.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|October 18, 2017
Summary
Genetic variations in taste receptor genes are linked to male infertility. Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TAS2R14 and TAS2R3 were associated with reduced sperm motility and abnormal acrosome formation in Caucasian men.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Reproductive Biology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Taste receptors (TASRs) are expressed in the testis and spermatozoa, suggesting a role in male fertility.
- Genetic variability in taste genes contributes to diverse human phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in taste receptor genes (TASR) and male infertility.
- To explore the relationship between specific TASR gene variants and sperm parameters in Caucasian males.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of 19 SNPs in 12 taste-related genes in 494 Caucasian males undergoing infertility investigations.
- Statistical analysis using generalized linear models (GLM) to assess associations between SNPs, age, smoking, and sperm parameters.
Main Results:
- The homozygous (G) allele of TAS2R14-rs3741843 was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility (P = 0.003).
- The homozygous (T) allele of TAS2R3-rs11763979 was linked to fewer normal acrosomes (P = 0.002).
- Results were corrected for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction.
Conclusions:
- Specific SNPs in TAS2R14 and TAS2R3 are associated with altered sperm parameters, suggesting a role in male infertility.
- In silico analyses indicate functional effects of these SNPs on gene expression related to sperm motility and maturation.