• Mussarat Ashraf, Shahana Urooj Kazmi, Hemaila Tariq, Adnan Munır, and Rehana Rehman.
• Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Turk J Med Sci. 2022 Dec 1; 52 (6): 179318011793-1801.

Background: Infertility is a global problem that brings about serious sexual and social consequences that strain the health sector and society. The expansion of CAG and GGC repeats in androgen receptor (AR) gene (Ensembl number ENSG00000169083) may lead to reduced fertility. Our objective was to determine the association of CAG and GGC repeats with altered sperm parameters in male infertile subjects.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted at Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 376 males were recruited, out of which group A (N = 208) and group B (N = 168) were comprised of subjects with normal and altered sperm parameters, respectively, from 18 to 60 years. The numbers of CAG and GGC repeats were determined by using PCR amplification and sequence analysis using the Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) software version 6.0. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20 and the P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe mean androgen receptor gene CAG repeats were significantly longer in males with altered sperm parameters as compared to male subjects with normal sperm parameters (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference found for GGC repeats for subjects with altered sperm parameters.DiscussionLonger CAG length corresponded to greater severity of spermatogenic defect and may lead to subfertility recommendations.

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