Genotype distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C and C677T gene in Indonesian infertile men.

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme of folate and methionin metabolism, making it crucial for DNA synthesis and methylation. Variants of MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene result in reduced plasma folate levels and increase the susceptibility to spermatogenic arrest. This research aims to analyses MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphism in Indonesian infertile men with azoospermia and oligozoospermia. Methods: This cross sectional study takes 3 mL of blood from 150 infertile men with oligozoospermia and azoospermia. MTHFR gene is analyzed using polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) with specific primers. PCR-RFLP analysis of the MTHFR gene using restriction enzymes MboII and HinfI determines allotypes, both of SNP A1298C and C677T in oligozoospermia and azoospermia in Indonesian population. Results: The results show that the distribution of allotypes of MTHFR gene SNP A1298C and A677T is not significantly different (p>0.05) between patient groups with oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Conclusion: MTHFR gene polymorphisms, both of SNP A1298C and C677T are not associated with male infertility in Indonesian men including patients with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia.

Spermatogenic alterations in men with high testiculo epididymal temperatures.

Sperms are produced by a highly complex and poorly understood differentiation process known as spermatogenesis. Occupational exposure to high temperatures adversely affect testicular function causing partial or complete spermatogenic arrest. Dyers, cooks, blast furnace workers and men with varicocele are known to develop testicular hyperthermia, which leads to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and azoospermia. Semen analysis of 125 infertile men (and 25 fertile controls following the WHO guidelines, 1999 showed azoospermia in 109 men and oligozoospermia in 16 men. Twenty azoospermic and 14 oligozoospermic men had high testiculoepididymal temperatures either due to occupational exposure to high temperature or varicocele. All the 14 oligozoospermic men showed a very high percentage of sperms with abnormal morphology, impaired motility and they were subclassified as OAT group. Observations made in this study reiterates that high intratesticular temperature causes partial or complete spermatogenic arrest and may lead to increased production of morphologically abnormal sperms with impaired motility. This inverse relationship of sperm function with elevated temperature has implications in clinical medicine both in understanding pathological states and for therapeutic measures.