Association of DAZL haplotypes with spermatogenic failure in infertile men

Objective: To identify novel DAZL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to compare allele/genotype frequencies, linkage disequilibrium (LD) characteristics, and DAZL haplotypes between fertile and infertile men. Design: Prospective case study. Setting: University genetics laboratory and reproductive clinics. Patient(s): Two hundred thirty-one infertile men and 191 men with proven fertility. Intervention(s): Single strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis for DAZL gene polymorphism screening were done for all subjects enrolled. Main Outcome Measure(s): Novel SNPs, allele/genotype frequencies, LD characteristics, and DAZL haplotypes between fertile and infertile men. Result(s): Five SNPs were identified: 260A>G, 386A>G, 520+34c>a, 584+28c>t and 796+36g>a. SNP 386A>G was significantly associated with spermatogenic failure and was mainly heterozygous in infertile patients. The major haplotypes in infertile men were AACTA (45.8%), followed by AACCG, AAATA, AAACG, and GGACG for 260A>G/386A>G/520+34c>a/584+28c>t/796+36g>a. The major haplotypes for the control subjects were AACCG (41.7 %), AAATA, and AACTA. Of all haplotypes, five showed significant differences in frequency between infertile men and control subjects. Haplotypes AACTA, AAACG, and GGACG were overtransmitted in patients with spermatogenic failure, whereas haplotypes AACCG and AAATA were undertransmitted in these patients. Conclusion(s): Our study suggests the association of autosomal DAZL haplotypes with human spermatogenic failure.