Infertility is a multifactorial disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. It is observed in 10–15% of couples, among which male infertility contributes for half the cases. Thus, identifying underlying causes of male infertility and for proper methods for treating and/or preventing sperm damage is of paramount importance. It is found that one of the factors that has been recently implicated in male infertility is oxidative stress, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced during the metabolic process, as well as during the exposure to environmental chemical agents and their interaction with tissue-specific enzymes. Several studies have identified genetic variations at different loci, connected with male infertility, that may shed light on some idiopathic cases of seminal fluid abnormalities. In this chapter, we make an effort to decipher the contribution of polymorphisms in xenobiotic detoxification genes in the male infertility development.
Part of the book: Male Reproductive Health