Association of polymorphisms in ART3 gene with male infertility in the Chinese population.

The ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 gene (ART3) has been reported to be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) in the Japanese population. In this study, we aim to explore the possible association between the four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs11097230, rs17001385, rs14773 and rs6836703) in ART3 gene and male infertility with spermatogenesis impairment in the Chinese population. The study population included 321 idiopathic infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia and 250 fertile males. Four SNPs of ART3 gene were genotyped using the method of SNaPshot. The results showed that an SNP (rs6836703) in the intron11 region of ART3 gene is significantly associated with male infertility (odds ratio: 0.632, 95% confidence interval: 0.440-0.910). No significant associations were found between any of the other three variants (rs11097230, rs17001385 and rs14773) in ART3 gene and male infertility. SNP rs6836703 in ART3 gene may contribute to male infertility risk in the Chinese population.