The relationship between p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism and sperm parameters. A study of men with varicocele.

Abstract

Regulation of the apoptotic process has an important role in spermatogenesis. p53 has a prominent function in apoptosis and recent data suggest a relationship between varicocele and p53 codon 72 polymorphism and male infertility. This prompted us to study the relationship between this polymorphism and spermatic parameters. We studied 134 subjects with varicocele admitted consecutively to the outpatients Department of Infertility at the University of Rome La Sapienza. We investigated in these subjects the effect of a strong apoptosis inducer, the p53 codon 72 *Arg/*Arg genotype, on spermatic parameters.The p53 codon 72 genotype was determined by DNA analysis. The proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal (curvilinear) motility is higher in men with the *Arg/*Arg genotype than in men carrying the *Pro allele (p = 0.003). No statistical significant relationship has been observed with spermatozoa concentration and atypical spermatozoa. We conclude: the p53 codon 72*Arg/*Arg genotype, with its strong apoptotic effects, negatively influences spermatozoa motility and male fertility.