Possible association of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism with premature ejaculation in a Turkish population

• Published in: Asian journal of andrology Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 351 - 355
• Main Authors: Ozbek, Emin, Tasci, Ali I, Tugcu, Volkan, Ilbey, Yusuf O, Simsek, Abdulmuttalip, Ozcan, Levent, Polat, Emre C, Koksal, Vedat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd 01.05.2009; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Ejaculation; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Polymorphism, Genetic; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - genetics; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - physiopathology; Turkey; Young Adult; Turkey
• ISSN: 1008-682X; 1745-7262
• DOI: 10.1038/aja.2008.3

We evaluated the genotypes of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) in patients with premature ejaculation (PE) to determine the role of genetic factors in the etiopathogenesis of PE and possibly to identify the patient subgroups. A total of 70 PE patients and 70 controls were included in this study. All men were heterosexual, had no other disorders and were either married or in a stable relationship. PE was defined as ejaculation that occurred within 1 min of vaginal intromission. Genomic DNA from patients and controls was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction, and allelic variations of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were determined. The 5-HTTLPR (serotonin transporter promoter gene) genotypes in PE patients vs. controls were distributed as follows: L/L 16% vs. 17%, L/S 30% vs. 53% and S/S 54% vs. 28%. We examined the haplotype analysis for three polymorphisms of the 5-HTTLPR gene: LL, LS and SS. The appropriateness of the allele frequencies in the 5-HTTLPR gene was analyzed by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the chi2-test. The short (S) allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene was significantly more frequent in PE patients than in controls (P<0.05). We suggest that the 5-HTTLPR gene plays a role in the pathophysiology of all primary PE cases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism and patient subgroup (such as primary and secondary PE) responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as ethnic differences.