RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of FASL-844 polymorphism in southern Chinese males of Han nationality and examine the contribution of the polymorphism to susceptibility of idiopathic azoospermia and oligozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>FASL-844 polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) in 184 infertile patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia 236 normal fertile male controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Frequencies of FASL-844 CT and TT genotypes of the patients were significantly different from those of the controls (P = 0.024; P = 0.008). Males with FASL-844 TT genotype had an increased risk of idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia compared with those with CC genotype (OR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.20-6.35), and even a higher risk when compared with those with CC and CT genotypes (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.28-6.58).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FASL-844 polymorphism appears to be a genetic predisposing factor of idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia among southern Chinese Han males.</p>