The relationship between p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism and sperm parameters. A study of men with varicocele.

Purpose: Regulation of the apoptotic process has an important role in spermatogenesis. p53 has a prominent function in apoptosis and recent data suggest a relationship between varicocele and p53 codon 72 polymorphism and male infertility. This prompted us to study the relationship between this polymorphism and spermatic parameters.

Methods: We studied 134 subjects with varicocele admitted consecutively to the outpatients Department of Infertility at the University of Rome La Sapienza. We investigated in these subjects the effect of a strong apoptosis inducer, the p53 codon 72 *Arg/*Arg genotype, on spermatic parameters.The p53 codon 72 genotype was determined by DNA analysis.

Results: The proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal (curvilinear) motility is higher in men with the *Arg/*Arg genotype than in men carrying the *Pro allele ( = 0.003). No statistical significant relationship has been observed with spermatozoa concentration and atypical spermatozoa.

Conclusions: We conclude: the p53 codon 72*Arg/*Arg genotype, with its strong apoptotic effects, negatively influences spermatozoa motility and male fertility.