Organic cation/carnitine transporter OCTN2 (SLC22A5) −207C>G (rs2631367) polymorphism is not associated with male infertility

Carnitine is an important factor in the initiation of progressive sperm motility and end stage of sperm maturation. The compound is transported by an organic cation/carnitine transporter (OCTN2), which is expressed in the male reproductive system. OCTN2 is encoded by SLC22A5 gene with proven −207C>G functional polymorphism. The aim of the case–control study was to investigate a potential association between the −207C>G SLC22A5 polymorphism and male infertility. The −207C>G SLC22A5 polymorphism was determined by means of TaqMan assay in 206 infertile Caucasian males and 256 ethnically matched controls. Besides genotyping study, sperm mitochondrial function was assessed using NADH-dependent NBT assay. The distribution of SLC22A5 genotypes in infertile men was as follows: CC – 29.6%, CG – 53.9%, GG – 16.5% and in fertile men: CC – 32.0%, CG – 50.0%, GG – 18.0%, and was comparable in both evaluated groups. Likewise, the studied polymorphism did not affect sperm mitochondrial function. The results of the current study demonstrated that −207C>G polymorphism of the SLC22A5 gene is not associated with male infertility.