OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of A260G and A386G polymorphisms of the DAZL gene with male infertility caused by oligozoospermia or azoospermia.

METHODSWe searched the PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, CNKI, VIP, and CDDB databases up to November 30, 2013 for case-control studies evaluating the relationship of SNP260 and SNP386 polymorphisms of the DAZL gene with male infertility, and meanwhile conducted manual sourcing of the references in the identified studies and relevant articles. Two reviewers independently screened the title, abstract and keywords of each article retrieved. The StataSE12. 0 software was used for meta-analysis and other statistical analyses.

RESULTSTotally, 13 case-control studies were included (10 about A260G and 11 about A386G), involving 2 715 infertile patients (2 500 with oligozoospermia or azoospermia) and 1 835 normozoospermic men. DAZL A260G showed no statistical significance in the allele, dominant, recessive, co-dominant, or super-dominant gene model (P >0. 05). DAZL A386G exhibited a strong correlation with oligozoospermia or azoospermia in Asians in the allele gene model (OR = 0. 15, 95% CI 0.07 -0.34, P <0.05), dominant gene model (OR =0. 16, 95% CI 0.07 - 0. 35, P <0.05), co-dominant gene model (AA/AG) (OR = 0. 15, 95% CI 0. 06 - 0. 33, P < 0. 05), and super-dominant gene model (OR = 0. 15 (95% CI 0.06 - 0.33, P <0.05) , and so did it in Chinese in the four gene models ( OR = 0. 11, 95% CI 0.04 - 0. 28, P <0.05; OR =0. 11, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.28, P<0.05; OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.03 - 0.26, P<0.05; OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.03 - 0.26, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur study manifested that the DAZL polymorphism A386G, but not A260G, was correlated with reduced sper- matogenesis or sperm count specifically in Chinese males. More high-quality trials are required for a deeper insight into the exact relationship of DAZL A260G and A386G polymorphisms with oligozoospermia- or azoospermia-induced male infertility.