Genetic variants in epoxide hydrolases modify the risk of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia in Han-Chinese population

ObjectivesEpoxide hydrolases are involved in detoxifying and excreting the environmental chemicals, which are associated with decreased semen quality and male infertility. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in epoxide hydrolases may be associated with risk of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia.Design and methodsIn this study, 468 fertile controls and 672 idiopathic male infertile patients were recruited. SNPstream and TaqMan assay were used to genotype four single nucleotide polymorphisms in EPHX1 and EPHX2. The semen analysis was performed by computer-assisted semen analysis system.ResultsOur results demonstrated that rs1042064 of EPHX2 was significantly associated with decreased risk of oligozoospermia (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.98) and asthenospermia (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46–0.94).ConclusionsOur results provided evidence that genetic variants in epoxide hydrolases may modify the risk of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia in Han-Chinese population.

► We genotyped four SNPs in EPHX1 and EPHX2 in Han-Chinese population.
► Rs1042064 in EPHX2 was associated with male infertility.
► Rs1042064 exhibited a decreased risk of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia.