The association of the ۴۹۷۷ bp sperm mitochondrial DNA deletion with asthenozoospermia in Guilan province of Iran

Background and Aim: Asthenozoospermia is an important cause of male infertility. Mutations in sperm mtDNA result in either functionless or malfunctioning proteins, subsequently affecting sperm motility leading to asthenozoospermia. The purpose of this was to investigate sperm mtDNA ۴۹۷۷ bp deletion in infertile men with low sperm motility compared to healthy subjects with high sperm motility.Methods: Semen samples of ۶۴ asthenozoospermic infertiles and ۶۴ controls from northern Iran were collected. After extraction of spermatozoa total DNA, primer-shift PCR was performed.Results: The deletion was observed in ۸۵.۹۳ % of patients with asthenozoospermia compared with ۱۰.۹ % in controls [OR = ۴۹.۷۶۱۹, ۹۵ % confidence interval = ۱۷.۳۲۷۸-۱۴۲.۹۰۵۷, P = ۰.۰۰۰۱].Conclusion: It is concluded that there is a strong association between sperm mtDNA ۴۹۷۷ bp deletion and asthenozoospermia-induced infertility in the population examined. Large-scale mtDNA deletions in spermatozoa may induce bioenergetic disorders.