Correlation of Sperm Mitochondrial DNA 7345 bp and 7599 bp Deletions with As-thenozoospemia in Jordanian Population

Mazhar Salim  Al Zoubi; Ali M.  Al-Talafha; Emad  Al Sharu; Bahaa  Al-Trad; Ayman  Alzu'bi; Manal Issam  AbuAlarjah; Qasem   Shehab; Mohammad Alsmadi; Khalid M.   Al-Batayneh

doi:10.18502/jri.v22i3.6717

Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Ali M. Al-Talafha Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Emad Al Sharu King Hussein Medical Centre, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan
Bahaa Al-Trad Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Ayman Alzu'bi Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Manal Issam AbuAlarjah Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Qasem Shehab Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
Mohammad Alsmadi Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken,
Khalid M. Al-Batayneh Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jri.v22i3.6717

Keywords: Asthenozoospermia, Gene deletion, Male infertility, Mitochondrial DNA, Sperm motility.

Abstract

Background: Alterations in sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) affect the functions of some OXPHOS proteins which will affect sperm motility and may be associated with asthenozoospermia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between 7599-bp and 7345-bp sperm mtDNA deletions and asthenozoospermia in Jordan.

Methods: Semen specimens from 200 men including 121 infertile and 79 healthy individuals were collected at the Royal Jordanian Medical Services In-vitro fertilization (IVF) units. The mtDNA was extracted followed by mtDNA amplification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted for the target sequences, then DNA sequencing was performed for the PCR products. Chi-square, Fisher's and Spearman's tests were used to calculate the correlation.

Results: The results showed a significant correlation between the presence of 7599-bp mtDNA deletion and infertility where the frequency of the 7599-bp deletion was 63.6% in the infertile group compared to the fertile 34.2% (p<0.001, (OR=3.37, 95% CI=1.860 to 6.108)). Additionally, the sperm motility showed a significant association with the frequency of the 7599-bp deletion (p=0.001, r=-0.887). The 7345-bp mtDNA deletion showed no assoctiation with the infertility (p=0.65, (OR=0.837, 95% CI= 0.464-1.51)) or asthenozoospermia (p=0.98, r=0.008).

Conclusion: We demonstrated a significant correlation between asthenozoospermia and the 7599-bp mtDNA deletion but not the 7345-bp mtDNA deletion in the infertile men in Jordan. Screening for deletions in sperm mtDNA can be used as a pre-diagnostic molecular marker for male infertility.