The effect of β₃-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms on lower urinary tract function in males

To clarify the role of Trp64Arg polymorphisms of the gene encoding the β₃-adrenoceptor for lower urinary tract function in males, the present study investigated the association between the Trp64Arg polymorphisms and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and function.

This prospective observational study included patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Before surgery, blood samples were collected, and analyses of β₃-adrenoceptor gene polymorphism were performed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. The present cohort was divided into patients with wild type (Trp64Trp) and with variant type (Trp64Arg + Arg64Arg), and LUTS and lower urinary tract function before surgery were compared between them.

Wild type was found in 247 patients, with variant type in 129. There were no significant differences in LUTS between the two groups. Residual urine volume (PVR) (wild type: variant type = 47 ± 53 mL: 58 ± 77 mL, P = 0.04) and voiding time on uroflowmetry (wild type: variant type = 29 ± 15 s: 33 ± 17 s, P = 0.04) were significantly increased in the variant type.

The Trp64Arg variant of the β₃-adrenoceptor gene significantly increased PVR and voiding time in men. However, it was not significantly associated with the emergence of LUTS. Thus, since the effect of β₃-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms on the genitourinary organs might be weak, whether men possess the Trp64Arg variant of the β₃-adrenoceptor gene might not critically affect urinary quality of life, but modestly affect the lower urinary tract function.