Association between polymorphisms in the serotonin 2C receptor gene and premature ejaculation in Han Chinese subjects.

INTRODUCTION

Lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) is characterized by persistently shorter intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) than found acceptable by the patient or his partner. It has been postulated to be a neurobiological dysfunction with genetic vulnerability and is related to disturbances of central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurotransmission and 5-HT receptor function.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the C-759T and G-697C polymorphisms of the 5-HT(2C) receptor and LPE.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in 106 Han Chinese men with LPE, characterized by IELT of less than 1 min, and 84 healthy controls with IELT of more than 3 min. All subjects were genotyped for the C-759T and G-697C polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the 5-HT(2C) receptor. The frequencies of genotypes and single nucleotide mutations were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Three genotypes were detected both in the men with LPE and in the control group: -759C/-697G, -759T/-697C, and -759C/ -697C. Genotype -759T/-697G was not detected. The frequency of genotype -759T/-697C was higher in patients with LPE than in the control group (30.2 vs. 11.9%, p < 0.05), whereas the frequency of genotype -759C/-697G was lower in patients with LPE than in the control group (66.0 vs. 83.3%, p < 0.05). No difference was found for genotype -759C/ -697C between the two groups. Mutations at -759T and -697C were more frequent in patients than in the control group (-759T: 30.2 vs. 13.3%, p < 0.05; -697C: 30.4 vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that polymorphisms in the 5-HT(2C) receptor gene are associated with LPE, and men who carry the -759T or -697C genotype have increased odds of premature ejaculation. Further investigation in this field is necessary.