7th Call - Dr. Augustine Ocloo

Project Title: Common Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Mutations Associated with Male Infertility in Ghana

Principal Investigator: Dr. Augustine Ocloo (Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology)

Email Address: aocloo@ug.edu.gh

Award Amount: GHC 24,943.00

Project Status: On-going

Summary:

Male infertility affects about 16% of couples worldwide. Majority of these is due to alteration in sperm motility (asthenozoospermia) or sperm number (oligospermia). Mitochondria play crucial role in supplying energy for sperm motility and are known to play significant role in cell development. Mitochondrial biogenesis is under the influence of both the nuclear and mitochondrial genome. Therefore mutations in either the nuclear genome or the mitochondrial genome which affect mitochondrial function could have significant effect on sperm motility and function and contribute significantly to male infertility. Furthermore, the mtDNA is maternally inherited so that mutations in the mtDNA associated with male infertility could be used as biomarkers in identifying women who may be potentially at risk of transmitting these to their male children. Several studies in many countries have attributed mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to male infertility; different studies have observed different mutations. In Ghana data on mtDNA mutations and male infertility is lacking. This study seeks to determine the common mutations in the mtDNA among Ghanaian males presented with asthenozoospermia compared with their fertile counterparts.