Evaluating the Association of rs6500633 Polymorphism in the SEPT12 Gene with Idiopathic Asthenozoospermia in Iranian Azeri Males: A Case-Control Study

SEPT12 gene encode a testis-specific protein that play important role in terminal differentiation of germ cells. The product of this gene involved in sperm tail annulus constituent, and is essential for head-tail formation in sperm. Various polymorphisms on SEPT12 gene are identified that are associated with impairment of sperm function as well as spermatogenesis in males with infertility. In this study we investigated correlation of rs6500633 polymorphism in the SEPT12 gene in Iranian Azeri male with idiopathic asthenozoospermia (AZS).

We enrolled 50 men with idiopathic AZS as case group and 50 healthy men as control group from East Azerbaijan, Iran. Extraction of genomic DNA was conducted by proteinase K method from sperm samples. Genotyping was performed by tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (Tetra-ARMS PCR).

Frequency of TT, TC, and CC genotypes were 10%, 86%, and 4% in the AZS. On the other hand, the frequencies were 4%, 90%, and 6% in the healthy controls, respectively. Our study indicated no significant difference between the patient and control groups for frequency of the rs6500633 polymorphism in the SEPT12 gene (P > 0.05).

We demonstrated no significant association between rs6500633 polymorphism in the SEPT12 gene and AZS among Iranian Azeri men.