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Naeimi N, MohseniKouchesfehani H, Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb H, Movahed S, Moudi B, Asemirad A, Sheibak N, Heidari Z. Downregulation of miR-211 expression in the blood plasma of infertile men compared to the fertile controls. Int J Urol 2024; 31:718-723. [PMID: 38470159 DOI: 10.1111/iju.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Infertility is inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. MiRNA expression changes can serve as potential biomarkers for infertility in males due to impaired spermatogenesis. This research was conducted to measure the expression level of miR-211 in plasma samples as a factor identifying infertility in comparison with the control group. METHODS In this study, blood plasma were taken from the infertile men (n = 103) nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) or severe oligozoospermia (SO) and the control group (n = 121). The expression of circulating miR-211 in plasma was assessed by qRT-PCR. A relative quantification strategy was adopted using the 2-ΔΔCT method to calculate the target miR-211 expression level in both study groups. RESULTS Plasma miR-211 levels were significantly lower in infertile men compared to the control group (0.544 ± 0.028 and 1.203 ± 0.035, respectively, p < 0.001). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that miR-211 expression level has a positive and significant correlation with sperm parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm total motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Decreased expression of miR-211 in blood plasma seems to be associated with male infertility. This experiment showed that miR-211 can be considered as a biomarker for evaluation, diagnosis, and confirmation of the results of semen analysis in male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Naeimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
| | | | - Hamidreza Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Science in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Saeed Movahed
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine Ali Ibne Abitaleb Hospital Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Bita Moudi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Science in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Azam Asemirad
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Nadia Sheibak
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Zahra Heidari
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Science in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
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2
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Luo X, Huang L, Guo Y, Yang Y, Gong P, Ye S, Wang L, Feng Y. Identification of potential candidate miRNAs related to semen quality in seminal plasma extracellular vesicles and sperms of male duck (Anas Platyrhynchos). Poult Sci 2024; 103:103928. [PMID: 39003794 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Semen quality is an important indicator that can directly affect fertility. In mammals, miRNAs in seminal plasma extracellular vesicles (SPEVs) and sperms can regulate semen quality. However, relevant regulatory mechanism in duck sperms remains largely unclear. In this study, duck SPEVs were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blot (WB), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). To identify the important molecules affecting semen quality, we analysed the miRNA expression in sperms and SPEVs of male ducks in high semen quality group ((DHS, DHSE) and low semen quality group (DLS, DLSE). We identified 94 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in the comparison of DHS vs. DLS, and 21 DE miRNAs in DHSE vs. DLSE. Target genes of SPEVs DE miRNAs were enriched in ErbB signaling pathway, glycometabolism, and ECM-receptor interaction pathways (P < 0.05), while the target genes of sperm DE miRNAs were enriched in ribosome (P < 0.05). The miRNA-target-pathway interaction network analyses indicated that 5 DE miRNAs (miR-34c-5p, miR-34b-3p, miR-449a, miR-31-5p, and miR-128-1-5p) targeted the largest number of target genes enriched in MAPK, Wnt and calcium signaling pathways, of which FZD9 and ANAPC11 were involved in multiple biological processes related to sperm functions, indicating their regulatory effects on sperm quality. The comparison of DE miRNAs of SPEVs and sperms found that mir-31-5p and novel-273 could potentially serve as biomarkers for semen quality detection. Our findings enhance the insight into the crucial role of SPEV and sperm miRNAs in regulating semen quality and provide a new perspective for subsequent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuliang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
| | - Liming Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
| | - Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
| | - Yu Yang
- Wuhan Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430208, P.R. China
| | - Ping Gong
- Wuhan Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430208, P.R. China
| | - Shengqiang Ye
- Wuhan Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430208, P.R. China
| | - Lixia Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430208, P.R. China
| | - Yanping Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China.
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3
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Da Silva LG, Da Silva LG, Ferreira LCL, Mascarello J, Moraes JGN, Lucy MC, Nogueira É. Factors influencing pregnancy per artificial insemination (AI) and embryonic mortality in Nelore females subjected to timed-AI in Brazil. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 265:107475. [PMID: 38663149 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
A greater understanding of factors influencing fertility is essential to improve pregnancy rates and reduce the occurrence of embryonic mortality in beef herds. The objective of the current study was to evaluate retrospective data of pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) and pregnancy loss in Nelore females subjected to timed-AI (TAI) in Brazil. Data from 40,104 TAI collected from six breeding seasons (2016-2022) were analyzed, and the effects of animal category (e.g., classification based on age and parity), farm, month of parturition, sire, sire breed (Nelore vs Angus), estrus expression at TAI, animal temperament, and body condition scores (BCS) were evaluated. P/AI and pregnancy loss were affected (P < 0.001) by animal category. There was also an effect of farm (P = 0.0013) on P/AI and pregnancy loss (P = 0.001), as P/AI ranged from 49.28% and 55.58% and pregnancy loss from 3.37% to 6.89% across the herds evaluated. Month of parturition also affected (P < 0.001) P/AI and was higher for cows that became pregnant at the beginning of the previous breeding season. Calmer animals, presenting lower velocity scores while exiting the chute following TAI, achieved higher P/AI (P < 0.001). Lower BCS at TAI was associated (P < 0.001) with increased pregnancy loss, and BCS gain following AI was associated (P < 0.001) with reduced rates of embryonic mortality. There was a major effect (P < 0.001) of sire on P/AI and pregnancy loss, as P/AI ranged from 11% to 79%, and embryonic mortality from 0% to 40% for the bulls used in the study, highlighting the importance of the sire fertility on overall pregnancy success. Results from the current study reinforce the idea that animal age and parity at the beginning of the breeding season, BCS at the onset of estrous synchronization, BCS gain following AI, estrus expression at TAI, sire, and month of parturition are important factors influencing P/AI and rates of embryonic mortality in beef herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gomes Da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Post Graduation Program of Veterinary Medicine- CIVET-UFMS, Campo Grandes, Brazil
| | - Luana Gomes Da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Post-Graduation Program of Animal Science, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; Cia Pecuaria Assessoria, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | | | - Julia Mascarello
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Post Graduation Program of Veterinary Medicine- CIVET-UFMS, Campo Grandes, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ériklis Nogueira
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation- EMBRAPA Beef Cattle, Av. Rádio Maia, 830, Campo Grande - MS, 79106-550, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Post Graduation Program of Veterinary Medicine- CIVET-UFMS, Campo Grandes, Brazil.
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4
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Chorley BN, Klinefelter GR, Nelson GM, Strader LF, Nguyen HH, Schladweiler MC, Palmer G, Moore ML, Grindstaff RD, Padgett WT, Carswell GK, Fisher AA, Kodavanti UP, Dye JA, Miller CN. Episodic ozone exposure in Long-Evans rats has limited effects on cauda sperm motility and non-coding RNA populations. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 128:108631. [PMID: 38830453 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests the potential for air pollutants to induce male reproductive toxicity. In experimental studies, exposure to ozone during sensitive windows in the sperm lifecycle has been associated with impaired sperm motility. Subsequently, we sought to investigate the effects of episodic exposure to ozone during sperm maturation in the rat. Long-Evans rats were exposed to either filtered air or ozone (0.4 or 0.8 ppm) for five non-consecutive days over two weeks. Ozone exposure did not impact male reproductive organ weights or sperm motility ∼24 hours following the final exposure. Furthermore, circulating sex hormones remained unchanged despite increased T3 and T4 in the 0.8 ppm group. While there was indication of altered adrenergic signaling attributable to ozone exposure in the testis, there were minimal impacts on small non-coding RNAs detected in cauda sperm. Only two piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) were altered in the mature sperm of ozone-exposed rats (piR-rno-346434 and piR-rno-227431). Data across all rats were next analyzed to identify any non-coding RNAs that may be correlated with reduced sperm motility. A total of 7 microRNAs (miRNAs), 8 RNA fragments, and 1682 piRNAs correlated well with sperm motility. Utilizing our exposure paradigm herein, we were unable to substantiate the relationship between ozone exposure during maturation with sperm motility. However, these approaches served to identify a suite of non-coding RNAs that were associated with sperm motility in rats. With additional investigation, these RNAs may prove to have functional roles in the acquisition of motility or be unique biomarkers for male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian N Chorley
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gary R Klinefelter
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gail M Nelson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Lillian F Strader
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Helen H Nguyen
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Mette C Schladweiler
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Grant Palmer
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Makala L Moore
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Rachel D Grindstaff
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - William T Padgett
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gleta K Carswell
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Anna A Fisher
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Urmila P Kodavanti
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Janice A Dye
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Colette N Miller
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
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5
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Sahoo B, Gupta MK. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Spermatogenesis-Related CircRNAs and LncRNAs in Goat Spermatozoa. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:2010-2032. [PMID: 37815627 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10520-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa comprises both coding and non-coding RNAs, which are traditionally believed to be a residual of spermatogenesis. The differential expression level of spermatozoal RNAs is also observed between fertile and infertile human, thereby anticipated as potential molecular marker of male fertility. This study investigated the transcriptome profile of goat (Capra hircus) spermatozoa. The sperm transcriptome was analyzed by three different methods viz. RLM-RACE, long-read RNA sequencing (RNAseq) in Nanopore™ platform, and short-read RNAseq in Illumina™ platform. The Illumina™ sequencing discovered 16,604 transcripts with 357 mRNAs having FPKM (fragments per kilobase per million mapped reads) of more than five. The spermatozoal RNA suite included mRNA (94%), rRNA (3%), miscRNA (1%), circRNA (1%), miRNA (1%), etc. This study also predicted circRNAs (127), lncRNAs (655), and imprinted genes (160) that have potential role in male reproduction. The gene ontology analysis revealed the involvement of spermatozoal RNA in regulating male meiosis (TET3, STAT5B), capacitation (ACRBP, CATSPER4), sperm motility (GAS8, TEKT2), spermatogenesis (ADAMTS2, CREB3L4), etc. The spermatozoal RNA were also associated with different biological pathways viz. Wnt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathways having potential role in spermatogenesis. Overall, this study enlightened the suite of spRNA transcripts in goat and their relevance in male fertility for diagnostic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India.
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6
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Podgrajsek R, Bolha L, Pungert T, Pizem J, Jazbec K, Malicev E, Stimpfel M. Effects of Slow Freezing and Vitrification of Human Semen on Post-Thaw Semen Quality and miRNA Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4157. [PMID: 38673743 PMCID: PMC11050687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Semen cryopreservation has played an important role in medically assisted reproduction for decades. In addition to preserving male fertility, it is sometimes used for overcoming logistical issues. Despite its proven clinical usability and safety, there is a lack of knowledge of how it affects spermatozoa at the molecular level, especially in terms of non-coding RNAs. Therefore, we conducted this study, where we compared slow freezing and vitrification of good- and poor-quality human semen samples by analyzing conventional sperm quality parameters, performing functional tests and analyzing the expression of miRNAs. The results revealed that cryopreservation of normozoospermic samples does not alter the maturity of spermatozoa (protamine staining, hyaluronan binding), although cryopreservation can increase sperm DNA fragmentation and lower motility. On a molecular level, we revealed that in both types of cryopreservation, miRNAs from spermatozoa are significantly overexpressed compared to those in the native semen of normozoospermic patients, but in oligozoospermic samples, this effect is observed only after vitrification. Moreover, we show that expression of selected miRNAs is mostly overexpressed in native oligozoospermic samples compared to normozoospermic samples. Conversely, when vitrified normozoospermic and oligozoospermic samples were compared, we determined that only miR-99b-5p was significantly overexpressed in oligozoospermic sperm samples, and when comparing slow freezing, only miR-15b-5p and miR-34b-3p were significantly under-expressed in oligozoospermic sperm samples. Therefore, our results imply that cryopreservation of normozoospermic sperm samples can modulate miRNA expression profiles in spermatozoa to become comparable to those in oligozoospermic samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeka Podgrajsek
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.P.)
| | - Luka Bolha
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Tjasa Pungert
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.P.)
| | - Joze Pizem
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Katerina Jazbec
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Slajmerjeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.J.); (E.M.)
| | - Elvira Malicev
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Slajmerjeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (K.J.); (E.M.)
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Stimpfel
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.P.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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7
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Bahmyari S, Khatami SH, Taghvimi S, Rezaei Arablouydareh S, Taheri-Anganeh M, Ghasemnejad-Berenji H, Farazmand T, Soltani Fard E, Solati A, Movahedpour A, Ghasemi H. MicroRNAs in Male Fertility. DNA Cell Biol 2024; 43:108-124. [PMID: 38394131 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2023.0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Around 50% of all occurrences of infertility are attributable to the male factor, which is a significant global public health concern. There are numerous circumstances that might interfere with spermatogenesis and cause the body to produce abnormal sperm. While evaluating sperm, the count, the speed at which they migrate, and their appearance are the three primary characteristics that are analyzed. MicroRNAs, also known as miRNAs, are present in all physiological fluids and tissues. They participate in both physiological and pathological processes. Researches have demonstrated that the expression of microRNA genes differs in infertile men. These genes regulate spermatogenesis at various stages and in several male reproductive cells. Hence, microRNAs have the potential to act as useful indicators in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility and other diseases affecting male reproduction. Despite this, additional research is necessary to determine the precise miRNA regulation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedigheh Bahmyari
- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyyed Hossein Khatami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Taghvimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sahar Rezaei Arablouydareh
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Hojat Ghasemnejad-Berenji
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Tooba Farazmand
- Departmant of Gynecology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Elahe Soltani Fard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Arezoo Solati
- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Zhao Y, Qin J, Sun J, He J, Sun Y, Yuan R, Li Z. Motility-related microRNAs identified in pig seminal plasma exosomes by high-throughput small RNA sequencing. Theriogenology 2024; 215:351-360. [PMID: 38150851 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Boar fertility is a key determinant of the production efficiency of the whole pig breeding industry and boar sperm motility is the seminal parameter with the greatest impact on the fecundity of a sow. Exosomes are small, extracellular vesicles found in many body fluids. Seminal plasma exosomes, which are secreted by the epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles, and testes, contain a large number of miRNAs, the types and levels of which can reflect the physiological state of source cells. It has been shown that the expression profile of seminal plasma exosomal miRNA differs between low-motility semen and normal semen. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between semen motility and exosomal miRNA profiles to obtain information that would allow to predict boar fertility, as well as contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms by which exosomal miRNAs regulate semen motility. Three high-motility (semen motility >90 %) and three low-motility (semen motility <80 %) semen samples were collected from Landrace and Yorkshire boars, respectively, and seminal plasma exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation. Exosome characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy, NTA, and Western blot. The expression profiles of exosomal miRNAs associated with semen motility in the two boar breeds were subsequently determined by small RNA sequencing. The results showed that 297 known miRNAs and 295 novel RNAs were co-expressed in the four groups. Notably, six miRNAs (ssc-miR-122-5p, ssc-miR-486, ssc-miR-451, ssc-miR-345-3p, ssc-miR-362, and ssc-miR-500-5p) were found to be differentially expressed in both boar breeds. Enrichment analysis of the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs showed that they were mainly involved in biological processes such as regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, regulation of gene expression, and intracellular signal transduction and signaling pathways such as the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. The six differentially expressed miRNAs identified in this study have significant potential as noninvasive markers of boar semen motility. Meanwhile, the results of the enrichment analysis provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the regulation of semen motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Zhao
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China; Guangxi Yangxiang Co., LTD, Guigang, 537000, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jiali Qin
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong province, China; Guangxi Yangxiang Co., LTD, Guigang, 537000, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jingshuai Sun
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong province, China
| | - Jian He
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong province, China
| | - Yanmei Sun
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong province, China
| | - Renqiang Yuan
- Guangxi Yangxiang Co., LTD, Guigang, 537000, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhili Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, Guangdong province, China.
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9
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Galdiero M, Trotta C, Schettino MT, Cirillo L, Sasso FP, Petrillo F, Petrillo A. Normospermic Patients Infected With Ureaplasma parvum: Role of Dysregulated miR-122-5p, miR-34c-5, and miR-141-3p. Pathog Immun 2024; 8:16-36. [PMID: 38223489 PMCID: PMC10783813 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Ureaplasma parvum (UP) is a causative agent of non-gonococcal urethritis, involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis and epididymitis, and it could impair human fertility. Although UP infection is a frequent cause of male infertility the study evidence assessing their prevalence and the association in patients with infertility is still scarce. The molecular processes leading to defects in spermatozoa quality are not completely investigated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively reported as gene regulatory molecules on post-transcriptional levels involved in various biological processes such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and the quality of sperm, oocyte, and embryos. Methods Therefore, the study design was to demonstrate that miRNAs in body fluids like sperm could be utilized as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for pathological and physiological conditions such as infertility. A post-hoc bioinformatics analysis was carried out to predict the pathways modulated by the miRNAs dysregulated in the differently motile spermatozoa. Results Here it is shown that normospermic patients infected by UP had spermatozoa with increased quantity of superoxide anions, reduced expression of miR-122-5p, miR-34c-5, and increased miR-141-3p compared with non-infected normospermic patients. This corresponded to a reduction of sperm motility in normospermic infected patients compared with normospermic non-infected ones. A target gene prediction presumed that an essential role of these miRNAs resided in the regulation of lipid kinase activity, accounting for the changes in the constitution of spermatozoa membrane lipids caused by UP. Conclusions Altogether, the data underline the influence of UP on epigenetic mechanisms regulating spermatozoa motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Carolo Trotta
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Naples Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Schettino
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Naples Italy
| | - Luigi Cirillo
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples Italy
| | | | - Francesco Petrillo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy
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10
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Huang C, Ji XR, Huang ZH, Liu Q, Wang RJ, Fan LQ, Wu HL, Bo H, Zhu WB. Long-term storage modifies the microRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:51-60. [PMID: 37573539 PMCID: PMC10787610 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The global practice of cryopreservation of human semen is commonplace in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) labs and sperm banks. However, information on the effects of long-term cryopreservation on semen is limited to clinical data summaries and descriptions. For this study, we prepared 4 semen specimens of fresh semen, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 1 year, 3 specimens cryostored for at least 5 years, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 10 years, and 3 specimens cryostored for at least 15 years. Total RNA was extracted from each sample, amplified, labeled, and mapped to the known primary microRNA (miRNA) in the miRBase database, enabling the prediction of novel miRNAs. We found that cryopreservation can lead to changes in miRNA expression, and with the increase in storage time, these changes became more pronounced. Meanwhile, the expression of let-7d-3p, let-7c-5p and let-7i-3p miRNAs changed dynamically over cryostorage time in frozen-thawed human sperm. Furthermore, we analyzed the time-dependent dynamics of cryostorage-expressed miRNAs and their target mRNAs and found that half of the target genes were expressed in oocytes. These intersection genes were mainly enriched in cancer and cytoskeletal signaling pathways. Our findings showed that the miRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen is modified by long-term storage. Furthermore, as the storage time increases, the impact on human sperm becomes more pronounced in terms of miRNAs, which may have an effect on subsequent fertilization and embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Huang
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xi-Ren Ji
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zeng-Hui Huang
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Rui-Jun Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li-Qing Fan
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hui-Lan Wu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Bo
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wen-Bing Zhu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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11
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de Souza LP, Domingues WB, Blödorn EB, da Silva Nunes L, Ortiz HG, Komninou ER, Campos VF. Expression of sperm microRNAs related to bull fertility: A systematic review. Res Vet Sci 2024; 166:105077. [PMID: 37948882 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study we proposed to address the following question: "Are there differentially expressed sperm microRNAs related to fertility in bulls?". A systematic review of scientific literature until November 2022 was performed, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The main outcome was differentially expressed sperm microRNA from bulls with low versus high fertility profiles identified by using different methods such as field fertility evaluation and sperm laboratory analysis. Were identified 786 documents, of which 13 were selected for qualitative analysis. A total of 182 unique differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, among these, 49 miRNAs were found in common between at least two studies. It is believed that from these 49 miRNAs, it is possible that miRNAs such as miR-10a, -10b, -103, -15b, -122, -125b, -126-5p, -151-5p, -193a-5p, -196a, -27a-5p and -99b could be potential universal biomarkers to assess the reproductive potential of males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Petitemberte de Souza
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - William Borges Domingues
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Bierhals Blödorn
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro da Silva Nunes
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Hadassa Gabriela Ortiz
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Vinicius Farias Campos
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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12
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Khan GS, Tahir MZ, Zahoor MY, Rahman HU, Riaz A. Ameliorative effect of crocin on post-thaw quality, fertility-associated gene expression and fertilization potential of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull sperm. Reprod Domest Anim 2024; 59:e14519. [PMID: 38268214 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Buffalo bull sperm suffer more cryoinjuries due to lipid peroxidation of high structural polyunsaturated fatty acid contents than cattle sperm. Consequently, the post-thaw fertilization potential of buffalo bull sperm is compromised. Crocin is a carotenoid known for its antioxidant potential through scavenging reactive oxygen species. Objectives of the current study were to investigate the effect of crocin addition in the semen extender on post-thaw quality, fertility-associated gene expression and fertilization potential of buffalo bull sperm. Semen samples (n = 32) from four Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls were extended with tris-citric acid extender containing different concentrations of crocin (0 mM; control, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mM). The extended semen was packed in 0.5 mL French straws (25 × 106 sperm/straw) and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Computer-assisted semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling test, normal apical ridge assay, Rhodamine 123, acridine orange, propidium iodide staining, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay were performed to assess sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA integrity, viability, and lipid peroxidation, respectively. Expression levels of sperm acrosome-associated SPACA3, DNA condensation-related PRM1, anti-apoptotic BCL2, pro-apoptotic BAX, and oxidative stress-associated ROMO1 genes were evaluated through qPCR. The fertility of semen doses containing the most potent concentration of crocin (based on optimum post-thaw semen quality) was compared with control during the breeding season. Buffaloes (n = 400; 200/group) were inseminated 24 h after the onset of oestrus and transrectally palpated for pregnancy at least 60 days post-insemination. Results revealed that 0.5 and 1 mM crocin improved sperm post-thaw total motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and viability, and 1 and 1.5 mM crocin enhanced catalase activity and reduced lipid peroxidation compared to control (p < .05). Moreover, 1 mM crocin improved sperm post-thaw progressive motility, kinematics, and DNA integrity, and 1.5 mM crocin enhanced plasma membrane integrity than control (p < .05). Expression levels of SPACA3, PRM1 and BCL2 genes were higher (p < .05) with 1 mM crocin compared to other groups. In contrast, no difference (p > .05) was noticed in expressions of BAX and ROMO1 genes among all groups. The fertility rate of semen doses containing the most potent concentration (1 mM) of crocin was higher (p = .0465) compared to control (56 ± 0.03% vs. 46 ± 0.04%, respectively). In conclusion, 1 mM crocin in the semen extender improves post-thaw quality, fertility-associated gene expression and fertilization potential of buffalo bull sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Shabbir Khan
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zahid Tahir
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yasir Zahoor
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hifz-Ul- Rahman
- Department of Livestock Management, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Riaz
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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Douet C, Grasseau I, Vitorino Carvalho A. Avian sperm-borne RNAs: optimisation of a new isolation protocol. Br Poult Sci 2023; 64:641-649. [PMID: 37266980 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2023.2220128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
1. Sperm-borne RNAs are involved in sperm and embryonic protein translation, the regulation of early development and the epigenetic inheritance of the paternal phenotype. Sperm-borne RNA purification protocols generally include a cell purification stage to discard contamination by somatic cells. In avian species, no protocol is currently available to isolate all the populations composing sperm-borne RNAs.2. This study evaluated the presence of somatic cells in semen samples of chickens and quails using visual examination after fluorescent nuclei staining. The efficiency of somatic cell lysis buffer (SCLB) on chicken liver cells and its impacts on chicken sperm cell integrity was explored. Three different approaches were tested to isolate RNA: two developed for mammalian sperm cells and a commercial kit for somatic cells. The efficiency and reliability of each approach was determined based on RNA quality and purity. Eventually, the presence of miRNA and mRNA in purified avian sperm-borne RNAs was investigated by RT-(q)PCR.3. No somatic cells were found in chicken and quail semen. The SCLB totally lysed chicken liver cells but also induced sperm cell necrosis. Consequently, this treatment wasn't performed on samples prior to RNA isolation. Among the tested RNA purification protocols, the commercial one was the least variable and isolated RNA with the highest purity levels. No DNA contamination was observed. Furthermore, the samples contained miRNA and mRNA already known as present in mammalian sperm cells (gga-miR-100-5p, gga-miR-191-5p, GAPDH and PLCZ1), but mRNAs associated with leucocytes (CD4) and Sertoli cells (SOX4, CLDN11) were not detected. This protocol was successfully applied to quail sperm cells.4. Altogether, the study reveals that it is unnecessary to pre-treat samples to remove somatic cell contamination before RNA purification and successfully describes an isolation protocol for sperm-borne RNAs, including small non-coding and long coding RNAs, in two distinct avian species highly valuable as biological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Douet
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | - I Grasseau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
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Shadmanesh A, Nazari H. Alterations in the expression pattern of some epigenetic-related genes and microRNAs subsequent to oocyte cryopreservation. ZYGOTE 2023; 31:411-419. [PMID: 37337712 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199423000321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-encoding RNAs that actively regulate biological and physiological processes, and play an important role in regulating gene expression in all cells, especially in most animal cells, including oocytes and embryos. The expression of miRNAs at the right time and place is crucial for the oocyte's maturation and the embryo's subsequent development. Although assisted reproductive techniques (ART) have helped to solve many infertility problems, they cause changes in the expression of miRNA and genes in oocytes and preimplantation embryos, and the effect of these changes on the future of offspring is unknown, and has caused concerns. The relevant genomic alterations commonly imposed on embryos during cryopreservation may have potential epigenetic risks. Understanding the biological functions of miRNAs in frozen maturated oocytes may provide a better understanding of embryonic development and a comparison of fertility conservation in female mammals. With the development of new techniques for genomic evaluation of preimplantation embryos, it has been possible to better understand the effects of ART. The results of various articles have shown that freezing of oocytes and the cryopreservation method are effective for the expression of miRNAs and, in some cases, cause changes in the expression of miRNAs and epigenetic changes in the resulting embryo. This literature review study aimed to investigate the effects of oocyte cryopreservation in both pre-maturation and post-maturation stages, the cryopreservation method and the type of cryoprotectants (CPA) used on the expression of some epigenetic-related genes and miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Shadmanesh
- Reproductive Biotechnology in Veterinary, Islamic Azad University, Eqlid Branch, Iran
| | - Hassan Nazari
- Research Institute of Animal Embryo Technology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
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15
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Salas-Huetos A, Ribas-Maynou J, Mateo-Otero Y, Tamargo C, Llavanera M, Yeste M. Expression of miR-138 in cryopreserved bovine sperm is related to their fertility potential. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:129. [PMID: 37730625 PMCID: PMC10510164 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00909-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules of 22-24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression. In the last decade, miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals, including cattle. It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans; however, little is known about the content, expression, and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo. In this study, total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples (each coming from a separate bull) using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I. RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer. The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm (bta-miR-10a, bta-miR-10b, bta-miR-138, bta-miR-146b, bta-miR-19b, bta-miR-26a, bta-miR-34a, bta-miR-449a, bta-miR-495 and bta-miR-7), previously identified in testis and/or epididymis, was evaluated with RT-qPCR. The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility [HF; non-return rates (NRR) ranging from 39.5 to 43.5] and those with subfertility (SF; NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3). Several sperm functionality parameters (e.g., viability, membrane stability or oxygen consumption, among others) were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies. RESULTS RNA concentration and purity (260/280 nm ratio) (mean ± SD) from the 29 samples were 99.3 ± 84.6 ng/µL and 1.97 ± 0.72, respectively. Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells. In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs, and after applying the Livak method, 8 out of 10 miRNAs (bta-miR-10b, -138, -146b, -19b, -26a, -449a, -495, -7) were consistently detected in bovine sperm, whereas the other two (bta-miR-10a, and -34a) were absent. Interestingly, the relative expression of one miRNA (bta-miR-138) in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group (P = 0.038). In addition to being associated to fertility potential, the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption. The expression of three other miRNAs (bta-miR-19b, bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7) was also correlated with sperm function variables. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results, this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond, and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Salas-Huetos
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain.
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain.
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Consorcio CIBER, M.P., Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
- Present Address: Unit of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, 43201, Spain.
| | - Jordi Ribas-Maynou
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
| | - Yentel Mateo-Otero
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
| | - Carolina Tamargo
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, The Regional Agri-Food Research and Development Service of Asturias (SERIDA), Gijón, 33394, Spain
| | - Marc Llavanera
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
| | - Marc Yeste
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, 17003, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010, Spain
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16
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Ojo OE, Hajek L, Johanns S, Pacífico C, Sener-Aydemir A, Ricci S, Rivera-Chacon R, Castillo-Lopez E, Reisinger N, Zebeli Q, Kreuzer-Redmer S. Evaluation of circulating microRNA profiles in blood as potential candidate biomarkers in a subacute ruminal acidosis cow model - a pilot study. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:333. [PMID: 37328742 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09433-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a metabolic disorder often observed in high-yielding dairy cows, that are fed diets high in concentrates. We hypothesized that circulating miRNAs in blood of cows could serve as potential candidate biomarkers to detect animals with metabolic dysbalances such as SARA. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs, serving as regulators of a plethora of molecular processes. To test our hypothesis, we performed a pilot study with non-lactating Holstein-Friesian cows fed a forage diet (FD; 0% concentrate, n = 4) or a high-grain diet (HG; 65% concentrate, n = 4) to induce SARA. Comprehensive profiling of miRNA expression in plasma and leucocytes were performed by next generation sequencing (NGS). The success of our model to induce SARA was evaluated based on ruminal pH and was evidenced by increased time spent with a pH threshold of 5.8 for an average period of 320 min/d. RESULTS A total of 520 and 730 miRNAs were found in plasma and leucocytes, respectively. From these, 498 miRNAs were shared by both plasma and leucocytes, with 22 miRNAs expressed exclusively in plasma and 232 miRNAs expressed exclusively in leucocytes. Differential expression analysis revealed 10 miRNAs that were up-regulated and 2 that were down-regulated in plasma of cows when fed the HG diet. A total of 63 circulating miRNAs were detected exclusively in the plasma of cows with SARA, indicating that these animals exhibited a higher number and diversity of circulating miRNAs. Considering the total read counts of miRNAs expressed when fed the HG diet, differentially expressed miRNAs ( log2 fold change) and known function, we have identified bta-miR-11982, bta-miR-1388-5p, bta-miR-12034, bta-miR-2285u, and bta-miR-30b-3p as potential candidates for SARA-biomarker in cows by NGS. These were further subjected to validation using small RNA RT-qPCR, confirming the promising role of bta-miR-30b-3p and bta-miR-2285. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that dietary change impacts the release and expression of miRNAs in systemic circulation, which may modulate post-transcriptional gene expression in cows undergoing SARA. Particularly, bta-miR-30b-3p and bta-miR-2285 might serve as promising candidate biomarker predictive for SARA and should be further validated in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- O E Ojo
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Nutrigenomics Unit, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - L Hajek
- Nutrigenomics Unit, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Johanns
- Nutrigenomics Unit, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - C Pacífico
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Biome Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Sener-Aydemir
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Ricci
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Rivera-Chacon
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - E Castillo-Lopez
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - N Reisinger
- DSM, BIOMIN Research Center, Tulln an Der Donau, Austria
| | - Q Zebeli
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Kreuzer-Redmer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts of Livestock, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Nutrigenomics Unit, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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17
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Wang X, Li W, Feng X, Li J, Liu GE, Fang L, Yu Y. Harnessing male germline epigenomics for the genetic improvement in cattle. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:76. [PMID: 37277852 PMCID: PMC10242889 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00874-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm is essential for successful artificial insemination in dairy cattle, and its quality can be influenced by both epigenetic modification and epigenetic inheritance. The bovine germline differentiation is characterized by epigenetic reprogramming, while intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance can influence the offspring's development through the transmission of epigenetic features to the offspring via the germline. Therefore, the selection of bulls with superior sperm quality for the production and fertility traits requires a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanism and more accurate identifications of epigenetic biomarkers. We have comprehensively reviewed the current progress in the studies of bovine sperm epigenome in terms of both resources and biological discovery in order to provide perspectives on how to harness this valuable information for genetic improvement in the cattle breeding industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, National Engineering Laboratory of Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Konge Larsen ApS, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Wenlong Li
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, National Engineering Laboratory of Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xia Feng
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, National Engineering Laboratory of Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jianbing Li
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - George E Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Lingzhao Fang
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark.
| | - Ying Yu
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, National Engineering Laboratory of Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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18
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Bollwein H, Malama E. Review: Evaluation of bull fertility. Functional and molecular approaches. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100795. [PMID: 37567681 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
With the term "assisted reproduction technologies" in modern cattle farming, one could imply the collection of techniques that aim at the optimal use of bovine gametes to produce animals of high genetic value in a time- and cost-efficient manner. The accurate characterisation of sperm quality plays a critical role for the efficiency of several assisted reproduction-related procedures, such as sperm processing, in vitro embryo production and artificial insemination. Bull fertility is ultimately a collective projection of the ability of a series of ejaculates to endure sperm processing stress, and achieve fertilisation of the oocyte and production of a viable and well-developing embryo. In this concept, the assessment of sperm functional and molecular characteristics is key to bull fertility diagnostics and prognostics. Among others, functional features linked to sperm plasma membrane, acrosome and DNA integrity are usually assessed as a measure of the ability of sperm to express the phenotypes that will allow them to maintain their homeostasis and orchestrate-in a strict temporal manner-the course of events that will enable the delivery of their genetic content to the oocyte upon fertilisation. Nevertheless, measures of sperm functionality are not always adequate indicators of bull fertility. Nowadays, advancements in the field of molecular biology have facilitated the profiling of several biomolecules in male gametes. The molecular profiling of bovine sperm offers a deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying sperm physiology and, thus, can reveal novel candidate markers for bull fertility prognosis. In this review, the importance of three organelles (the nucleus, the plasma membrane and the acrosome) for the characterisation of sperm fertilising capacity and bull fertility is discussed at functional and molecular levels. In particular, information about sperm head morphometry, chromatin structure, viability as well as the ability of sperm to capacitate and undergo the acrosome reaction are presented in relation to the cryotolerance of male gametes and bull fertility. Finally, major spermatozoal coding and non-coding RNAs, and proteins that are involved in the above-mentioned aspects of sperm functionality are also summarised.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - E Malama
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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19
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Pozdyshev DV, Kombarova NA, Muronetz VI. Biochemical Features of X or Y Chromosome-Bearing Spermatozoa for Sperm Sexing. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:655-666. [PMID: 37331711 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923050085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
This review presents information on biochemical features of spermatozoa bearing X or Y chromosome, enabling production of a sperm fraction with pre-defined sex chromosome. The almost only technology currently used for such separation (called sexing) is based on the fluorescence-activated cell sorting of sperm depending on DNA content. In addition to the applied aspects, this technology made it possible to analyze properties of the isolated populations of spermatozoa bearing X or Y chromosome. In recent years, existence of the differences between these populations at the transcriptome and proteome level have been reported in a number of studies. It is noteworthy that these differences are primarily related to the energy metabolism and flagellar structural proteins. New methods of sperm enrichment with X or Y chromosome cells are based on the differences in motility between the spermatozoa with different sex chromosomes. Sperm sexing is a part of the widespread protocol of artificial insemination of cows with cryopreserved semen, it allows to increase proportion of the offspring with the required sex. In addition, advances in the separation of X and Y spermatozoa may allow this approach to be applied in clinical practice to avoid sex-linked diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis V Pozdyshev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | - Nina A Kombarova
- Head Center for Reproduction of Agricultural Animals, 142143 Bykovo, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Muronetz
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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20
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Kasimanickam VR, Kasimanickam RK. In Silico Analysis of miRNA-Mediated Genes in the Regulation of Dog Testes Development from Immature to Adult Form. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091520. [PMID: 37174557 PMCID: PMC10177090 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput in-silico techniques help us understand the role of individual proteins, protein-protein interaction, and their biological functions by corroborating experimental data as epitomized biological networks. The objective of this investigation was to elucidate the association of miRNA-mediated genes in the regulation of dog testes development from immature to adult form by in-silico analysis. Differentially expressed (DE) canine testis miRNAs between healthy immature (2.2 ± 0.13 months; n = 4) and mature (11 ± 1.0 months; n = 4) dogs were utilized in this investigation. In silico analysis was performed using miRNet, STRING, and ClueGo programs. The determination of mRNA and protein expressions of predicted pivotal genes and their association with miRNA were studied. The results showed protein-protein interaction for the upregulated miRNAs, which revealed 978 enriched biological processes GO terms and 127 KEGG enrichment pathways, and for the down-regulated miRNAs revealed 405 significantly enriched biological processes GO terms and 72 significant KEGG enrichment pathways (False Recovery Rate, p < 0.05). The in-silico analysis of DE-miRNA's associated genes revealed their involvement in the governing of several key biological functions (cell cycle, cell proliferation, growth, maturation, survival, and apoptosis) in the testis as they evolve from immature to adult forms, mediated by several key signaling pathways (ErbB, p53, PI3K-Akt, VEGF and JAK-STAT), cytokines and hormones (estrogen, GnRH, relaxin, thyroid hormone, and prolactin). Elucidation of DE-miRNA predicted genes' specific roles, signal transduction pathways, and mechanisms, by mimics and inhibitors, which could perhaps offer diagnostic and therapeutic targets for infertility, cancer, and birth control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanmathy R Kasimanickam
- Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Ramanathan K Kasimanickam
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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21
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Kim EP, Shin JH, Kim WH, Kim GA. Integrated miRNA Changes in Canine Testis and Epididymis According to Age and Presence of Cryptorchidism. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081390. [PMID: 37106953 PMCID: PMC10135127 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to investigate age-, cryptorchidism-, and testicular tumor-related changes in miRNAs in the testis and epididymis of dogs. Twelve healthy male dogs were divided into two groups: young (<1 year, n = 8) and old (>3 years, n = 4). Five dogs with unilateral cryptorchidism, one with a Sertoli cell tumor, and one with seminoma were referred to a veterinary hospital. After surgery, the testes and epididymis tails were collected. A high-throughput miRNA array analysis was performed to identify miRNAs affected by age, cryptorchidism, and testicular tumors. The expression of only cfa-miR-503 was downregulated in the epididymis of younger dogs, whereas the expression of 64 miRNAs was upregulated. Among them, the top five miRNAs were cfa-miR-26a, cfa-miR-200c, cfa-let-7c, cfa-let-7b, and cfa-let-7a. The expression of cfa-miR-148a and cfa-miR-497 was considerably lower in cryptorchid testis than in healthy dog testis. In the epididymis, the cfa-miR-1841 level was significantly decreased. We observed a significant difference in the expression of 26 cfa-miRNAs between testicular tumors and normal tissues. This study demonstrated that aging and cryptorchidism have a causal relationship with miRNA expression. The identified miRNAs may be candidate genes for male reproductive traits and could be applied in molecular breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Pyo Kim
- Department of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Shin
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan Hee Kim
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Geon A Kim
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Eulji University, Uijeongbu 34824, Republic of Korea
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The Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:925-950. [PMID: 35604578 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Pre-clinical studies place tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as a central player in the inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI), and blocking its production and/or activity has been proposed as a possible treatment option after SCI. This systematic review provides an overview of the literature on the temporal and cellular expression of TNF after SCI and clarifies the potential for its therapeutic manipulation in SCI. A systematic search was performed in EMBASE (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), and Web of Science (Core Collection). The search terms were the MeSH forms of tumor necrosis factor and spinal cord injury in the different databases, and the last search was performed on February 3, 2021. We found twenty-four articles examining the expression of TNF, with most using a thoracic contusive SCI model in rodents. Two articles described the expression of TNF receptors in the acute phase after SCI. Twenty-one articles described the manipulation of TNF signaling using genetic knock-out, pharmaceutical inhibition, or gain-of-function approaches. Overall, TNF expression increased rapidly after SCI, within the first hours, in resident cells (neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) and again in macrophages in the chronic phase after injury. The review underscores the complexity of TNF's role after SCI and indicates that TNF inhibition is a promising therapeutic option. This review concludes that TNF plays a significant role in the inflammatory response after SCI and suggests that targeting TNF signaling is a feasible therapeutic approach.
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23
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Cao W, Sun W, Chen S, Jia X, Wang J, Lai S. Comprehensive analysis of microRNA and metabolic profiles in bovine seminal plasma of different semen quality. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1088148. [PMID: 37056229 PMCID: PMC10086235 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1088148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundSeminal plasma plays a pivotal role in modulating sperm viability and function. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.MethodIn this study, the bull semen production records of core breeding farms and bull stations in the past 10 years were analyzed.ResultsWe found that the semen of 5-year-old bulls collected for the first time is of the best quality (p < 0.05). Despite the bull semen collected under the above conditions, low-quality sperm is still obtained from part of bulls due to individual differences. Interestingly, seminal plasma from normal semen is capable of improving low-quality semen motility. To identify the potential key factors in seminal plasma, the differences in miRNA and metabolite profiles between normal and low-quality seminal plasma were analyzed. We found that 59 miRNAs were differently expressed, including 38 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated miRNAs. Three hundred and ninety-one and 327 significantly different metabolites were identified from the positive and negative ion models, respectively. These multiple miRNAs and metabolites collectively contribute to the motility of sperm, subsequently, affect semen quality.DiscussionTogether, these results not only revealed the critical factors of seminal plasma improving sperm quality but also provided potential miRNA- or metabolite-based biomarkers to identify the high semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Province General Station of Animal Husbandry, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenqiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianbo Jia
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Songjia Lai
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Songjia Lai
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Park YJ, Pang WK, Pang MG. Integration of omics studies indicates that species-dependent molecular mechanisms govern male fertility. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:28. [PMID: 36859388 PMCID: PMC9979430 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00836-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comparative and comprehensive omics studies have recently been conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying infertility. However, because these huge omics datasets often contain irrelevant information, editing strategies for summarizing and filtering the data are necessary prerequisite steps for identifying biomarkers of male fertility. Here, we attempted to integrate omics data from spermatozoa with normal and below-normal fertility from boars and bulls, including transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted and visualized using g:Profiler, Cytoscape, EnrichmentMap, and AutoAnnotation to determine fertility-related biological functions according to species. RESULTS In particular, gamete production and protein biogenesis-associated pathways were enriched in bull spermatozoa with below-normal fertility, whereas mitochondrial-associated metabolic pathways were enriched in boar spermatozoa with normal fertility. These results indicate that below-normal fertility may be determined by aberrant regulation of protein synthesis during spermatogenesis, and the modulation of reactive oxygen species generation to maintain capacitation and the acrosome reaction governs boar sperm fertility. CONCLUSION Overall, this approach demonstrated that distinct molecular pathways drive sperm fertility in mammals in a species-dependent manner. Moreover, we anticipate that searching for species-specific signaling pathways may aid in the discovery of fertility-related biomarkers within large omics datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo-Jin Park
- grid.254224.70000 0001 0789 9563Department of Animal Science & Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546 Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Ki Pang
- grid.254224.70000 0001 0789 9563Department of Animal Science & Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546 Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Geol Pang
- Department of Animal Science & Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Warr S, Pini T, de Graaf SP, Rickard JP. Molecular insights to the sperm-cervix interaction and the consequences for cryopreserved sperm. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:183-196. [PMID: 36191077 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryopreserved ram spermatozoa are limited in their capacity to traverse the ovine cervix and achieve fertilization. This altered interaction may be related to modified molecular communication between frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa, seminal plasma, and the female tract. As such, this review aims to identify the biological processes which underpin sperm maturation and transport throughout the female reproductive tract to elucidate factors which may alter this natural process in cryopreserved ram spermatozoa. We also assess critical barriers to ram spermatozoa specific to the ovine cervix and the role of seminal plasma in mitigating these barriers. Transcriptomics is explored as a new approach to understand the sperm-cervix interaction. Recent studies have demonstrated that both spermatozoa and seminal plasma contain a complex profile of coding and non-coding RNAs. These molecular species have clear links with functional fertility, and mounting evidence suggests they may be altered by cryopreservation. Emerging in vitro cell culture models are also investigated as a "next step" in studying this interaction, utilizing transcriptomics to identify subtle changes in female tract gene expression in response to spermatozoa. The application of such models is proposed as an exciting opportunity to investigate the unique challenges faced by cryopreserved spermatozoa traversing the ovine cervix prior to fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Warr
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Taylor Pini
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jessica P Rickard
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Singh R, Deb R, Sengar GS, Raja TV, Kumar S, Singh U, Das AK, Alex R, Kumar A, Tyagi S, Pal P, Patil NV. Differentially expressed microRNAs in biochemically characterized Frieswal TM crossbred bull semen. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:25-38. [PMID: 34106815 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1932519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
In addition to the transmission of paternal genome, spermatozoa also carry coding as well as noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) into the female oocyte during the process of biological fertilization. Based on RNA deep sequencing, a total 28 number of differentially expressed miRNAs were cataloged in categorized FrieswalTM crossbred (Holstein Friesian X Sahiwal) bull semen on the basis of conception rate (CR) in field progeny testing program. Validation of selected miRNAs viz. bta-mir-182, bta-let-7b, bta-mir-34c and bta-mir-20a revealed that, superior bull semen having comparatively (p < .05) lower level of all the miRNAs in contrast to inferior bull semen. Additionally, it was illustrated that, bta-mir-20a and bta-mir-34c miRNAs are negatively (p < .01) correlated with seminal plasma catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) level. Interactome studies identified that bta-mir-140, bta-mir-342, bta-mir-1306 and bta-mir-217 can target few of the important solute carrier (SLC) proteins viz. SLC30A3, SLC39A9, SLC31A1 and SLC38A2, respectively. Interestingly, it was noticed that all the SLCs were significantly (p < .05) expressed at higher level in superior quality bull semen and they are negatively correlated (p < .01) with their corresponding miRNAs as mentioned. This study may reflect the role of miRNAs in regulating few of the candidate genes and thus may influence the bull semen quality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Singh
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Rajib Deb
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Gyanendra Singh Sengar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - T V Raja
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Umesh Singh
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - A K Das
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Rani Alex
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Amod Kumar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Shrikant Tyagi
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
| | - Prasanna Pal
- Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - N V Patil
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, India
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Li T, Wang H, Ma K, Wu Y, Qi X, Liu Z, Li Q, Zhang Y, Ma Y. Identification and functional characterization of developmental-stage-dependent piRNAs in Tibetan sheep testes. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad189. [PMID: 37282774 PMCID: PMC10321380 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The core function of the testes is to produce sperms, which is the prerequisite for maintaining male fertility. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNAs that are mainly enriched in the reproductive organ and play a key role in germ cell development and spermatogenesis. However, the expression and function of piRNAs in the testes of Tibetan sheep, a domestic animal endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the sequence structure, expression profile, and potential function of piRNAs in testicular tissues from Tibetan sheep at different developmental stages (3 months, 1 year, and 3 years of age, respectively) by small RNA sequencing. Of the identified piRNAs, the sequence lengths of 24-26 nt and 29 nt dominate. Most piRNA sequences begin with uracil and have a distinct ping-pong structure which mainly distributes in exons, repeat regions, introns, and other unannotated regions of the genome. The piRNAs in the repeat region are primarily derived from the retrotransposons: long terminal repeats, long interspersed nuclear elements, and short interspersed elements. These piRNAs constitute 2,568 piRNA clusters, which mainly distribute on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 13, 14, and 24, and of these clusters, a total of 529 piRNA clusters were differentially expressed in at least two age groups. Most of the piRNAs were expressed in a low abundance in the testes of developing Tibetan sheep. A total of 41,552 and 2,529 differential piRNAs were identified in testes from 3 months vs. 1 year, and 1 year vs. 3 years, respectively, presenting significantly increased abundance for most piRNAs in 1 year and 3 years compared with 3 months. The functional evaluation of the target genes showed that the differential piRNAs are mainly involved in regulating gene expression, transcription, protein modification, and cell development during spermatogenesis and testicular development. In conclusion, this study focused on the sequence structure and expression characteristics of piRNAs in the testis of Tibetan sheep and provided new insights into the functional mechanism of piRNAs in testicular development and spermatogenesis of sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Keyan Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yi Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xingcai Qi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zilong Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiao Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Youji Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou 730070, China
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Investigation of the mechanisms leading to human sperm DNA damage based on transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq techniques. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 46:11-19. [PMID: 36272896 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.08.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What are the molecular mechanisms leading to human sperm DNA damage? DESIGN Semen samples were collected and the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was assessed. Differentially expressed RNA in spermatozoa with a high (DFI ≥30%, experimental group) or normal (DFI <30%, control group) DFI were identified by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis was performed. Three differentially expressed RNA related to sperm DNA damage and repair, namely PMS1, TP53BP1 and TLK2, were validated using real-time quantitative (RT-qPCR). RESULTS A total of 19,970 expressed RNA were detected in the two groups. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of 189 RNA in the experimental group were significantly increased and those of 163 genes decreased. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that these RNA were mainly concentrated in the ATPase-dependent transmembrane transport complex, extracellular exosome, somatic cell DNA recombination, protein binding, cytoplasm and regulation of localization. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these RNA were mainly related to the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, endocytosis, p53 signalling pathway and cGMP-PKG signalling pathway. The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of PMS1, TP53BP1 and TLK2 in the experimental group were significantly lower than in the control group (P = 0.01, 0.015 and 0.004, respectively), which was identical to the results of RNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS Differentially expressed RNA related to sperm DNA damage and repair may be identified by RNA-seq technology, which provides new insights into the understanding of sperm DNA damage and repair, and will help to discover new biomarkers related to sperm DNA damage.
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29
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Advances in sperm cryopreservation in farm animals: Cattle, horse, pig and sheep. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106904. [PMID: 34887155 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation is one of the most important procedures in the development of biotechnologies for assisted reproduction. In some farm animals, the use of cryopreserved sperm has so many benefits for which relevance has become more evident in recent decades. Values for post-thaw sperm quality, however, are variable among species and within individuals of the same species. There is no standardized methodology for each of the stages of the cryopreservation procedure (andrological examination, semen collection, dilution, centrifugation, resuspension of the pellet with the freezing medium, packaging, freezing and post-thaw sperm evaluation), which also contributes to differences among studies. Cryotolerance markers of sperm and seminal plasma (SP) have been evaluated for prediction of ejaculate freezability. In addition, in previous research, there has been a focus on supplementing cryopreservation media with different substances, such as enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. In most studies, inclusion of these substances have led to improved post-thaw sperm quality and fertilizing capacity as a result of minimizing the adverse effects on sperm structure and function. Another approach is the use of different cryoprotectants. The aim with this review article is to provide an update on sperm cryopreservation in farm animals. The main detrimental effects of cryopreservation are described, including the negative repercussion on reproductive performance. Furthermore, the potential use of molecular biomarkers to predict sperm cryotolerance is discussed, as well as the addition of substances that can mitigate the harmful impact of freezing and thawing on sperm.
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Hitit M, Memili E. Sperm Signatures of Fertility and Freezability. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 247:107147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Indriastuti R, Pardede BP, Gunawan A, Ulum MF, Arifiantini RI, Purwantara B. Sperm Transcriptome Analysis Accurately Reveals Male Fertility Potential in Livestock. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2955. [PMID: 36359078 PMCID: PMC9657999 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, selection of superior male candidates in livestock as a source of frozen semen based on sperm quality at the cellular level is not considered accurate enough for predicting the potential of male fertility. Sperm transcriptome analysis approaches, such as messenger RNA levels, have been shown to correlate with fertility rates. Using this technology in livestock growth has become the principal method, which can be widely applied to predict male fertility potential in the livestock industry through the analysis of the sperm transcriptome. It provides the gene expression to validate the function of sperm in spermatogenesis, fertilization, and embryo development, as the parameters of male fertility. This review proposes a transcriptomic analysis approach as a high-throughput method to predict the fertility potential of livestock more accurately in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhesti Indriastuti
- Reproductive Biology Study Program, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
- Tuah Sakato Technology and Resource Development Center, Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of West Sumatra, Payakumbuh 26229, Indonesia
| | - Berlin Pandapotan Pardede
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, Reproduction, and Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Asep Gunawan
- Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Mokhamad Fakhrul Ulum
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, Reproduction, and Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Raden Iis Arifiantini
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, Reproduction, and Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Bambang Purwantara
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, Reproduction, and Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
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Yeh LY, Lee RKK, Lin MH, Huang CH, Li SH. Correlation between Sperm Micro Ribonucleic Acid-34b and -34c Levels and Clinical Outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Men with Male Factor Infertility. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012381. [PMID: 36293237 PMCID: PMC9604024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have examined the correlation between sperm miRNA levels and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In this study, we aimed to assess the correlation of sperm miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-122, and miR-429 levels with ICSI outcomes in men with teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. TaqMan microRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the relative expression of miRNAs in sperm. The relative miRNA levels quantified using a comparative method found that the four miRNAs were not associated with fertilization rate and early embryo development. However, revels of miR-34b and miR-34c in teratozoospermia sperm of the live birth group were significantly higher than those in the non-live birth group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off delta cycle threshold values of miR-34b and miR-34c were 8.630 and 7.883, respectively. Statistical analysis found that the levels of miR-34b and the miR-34c in teratozoospermic and asthenozoospermic sperm above the thresholds were not associated with the fertilization rate and the high-quality embryo rate above 50%; however, they were more likely to exhibit higher implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates. miR-34b and miR-34c were significantly associated with ICSI clinical outcomes in male factor infertility, especially teratozoospermia. Further validation is required before it becomes a clinically valid reference indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yu Yeh
- Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Robert Kuo-Kuang Lee
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 104, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Huei Lin
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 104, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hung Huang
- Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Hsiang Li
- Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Tamsui District, New Taipei 251, Taiwan
- MacKay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Donnellan EM, Perrier JP, Keogh K, Štiavnická M, Collins CM, Dunleavy EM, Sellem E, Bernecic NC, Lonergan P, Kenny DA, Fair S. Identification of differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in spermatozoa of bulls of varying fertility. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:993561. [PMID: 36277068 PMCID: PMC9581129 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.993561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bulls used in artificial insemination, with apparently normal semen quality, can vary significantly in their field fertility. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptome of spermatozoa from high (HF) and low (LF) fertility bulls at the mRNA and miRNA level in order to identify potential novel markers of fertility. Holstein-Friesian bulls were assigned to either the HF or LF group (n = 10 per group) based on an adjusted national fertility index from a minimum of 500 inseminations. Total RNA was extracted from a pool of frozen-thawed spermatozoa from three different ejaculates per bull, following which mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq were performed. Six mRNAs and 13 miRNAs were found differentially expressed (P < 0.05, FC > 1.5) between HF and LF bulls. Of particular interest, the gene pathways targeted by the 13 differentially expressed miRNAs were related to embryonic development and gene expression regulation. Previous studies reported that disruptions to protamine 1 mRNA (PRM1) had deleterious consequences for sperm chromatin structure and fertilizing ability. Notably, PRM1 exhibited a higher expression in spermatozoa from LF than HF bulls. In contrast, Western Blot analysis revealed a decrease in PRM1 protein abundance for spermatozoa from LF bulls; this was not associated with increased protamine deficiency (measured by the degree of chromatin compaction) or DNA fragmentation, as assessed by flow cytometry analyses. However, protamine deficiency was positively and moderately correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation, irrespective of fertility group. This study has identified potential biomarkers that could be used for improving semen quality assessments of bull fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eimear M. Donnellan
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jean-Philippe Perrier
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kate Keogh
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Ireland
| | - Miriam Štiavnická
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | | | - Elaine M. Dunleavy
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Eli Sellem
- ALLICE, Innovation and Development, Paris, France
| | - Naomi C. Bernecic
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David A. Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland,*Correspondence: Sean Fair
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Zhao S, Sun W, Chen SY, Li Y, Wang J, Lai S, Jia X. The exploration of miRNAs and mRNA profiles revealed the molecular mechanisms of cattle-yak male infertility. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:974703. [PMID: 36277066 PMCID: PMC9581192 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.974703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle-yak, the first-generation offspring of cattle and yak, inherited many excellent characteristics from their parents. However, F1 male hybrid infertility restricts the utilization of heterosis greatly. In this study, we first compared the testicular tissue histological characteristics of three cattle, three yaks, and three cattle-yak. Then we explored the miRNA profiles and the target functions of nine samples with RNA-seq technology. We further analyzed the function of DE gene sets of mRNA profiles identified previously with GSEA. Testicular histology indicated that the seminiferous tubules became vacuolated and few active germ cells can be seen. RNA-seq results showed 47 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated, 16 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated miRNAs in cattle and yaks compared with cattle-yak, respectively. From the intersection of DE miRNAs, we identified that bta-miR-7 in cattle-yak is down-regulated. Target prediction indicated that the filtered genes especially MYRFL, FANCA, INSL3, USP9X, and SHF of bta-miR-7 may play crucial roles in the reproductive process. With further network analysis and GSEA, we screened such hub genes and function terms, we also found some DE gene sets that enriched in ATP binding, DNA binding, and reproduction processes. We concluded that bta-miR-7 may play an important role in influencing fecundity. Our study provides new insights for explaining the molecular mechanism of cattle-yak infertility.
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Akhtar MF, Ma Q, Li Y, Chai W, Zhang Z, Li L, Wang C. Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation in Farm Animals Using Nanotechnology. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172277. [PMID: 36077996 PMCID: PMC9454492 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation is one of the sublime biotechnologies for assisted reproduction. In recent decades, there has been an increasing trend in the use of preserved semen. Post-thaw semen quality and values vary among animals of the same species. Similarly, there are species-specific variations in sperm morphology, i.e., sperm head, kinetic properties, plasma membrane integrity, and freezability. Similarly, the viability of sperm varies in the female reproductive tract, i.e., from a few hours (in cattle) to several days (in chicken). Various steps of sperm cryopreservation, i.e., male health examination, semen collection, dilution, semen centrifugation, pre- and post-thaw semen quality evaluation, lack standardized methodology, that result in differences in opinions. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including sperm preservation, are not applied to the same extent in commercial poultry species as in mammalian species for management and economic reasons. Sperm preservation requires a reduction in physiological metabolism by extending the viable duration of the gametes. Physiologically and morphologically, spermatozoa are unique in structure and function to deliver paternal DNA and activate oocytes after fertilization. Variations in semen and sperm composition account for better handling of semen, which can aid in improved fertility. This review aims to provide an update on sperm cryopreservation in farm animals.
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36
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Burgos CF, Cikutovic R, Alarcón M. MicroRNA expression in male infertility. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 34:805-818. [PMID: 35760398 DOI: 10.1071/rd21131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a multifactorial disorder that involves different physiopathological mechanisms and multiple genes. In this sense, we analyse the role of miRNAs in this pathology. Gene expression analysis can provide relevant information to detect biomarkers, signalling pathways, pathologic mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets for the disease. In this review, we describe four miRNA microarrays related to patients who present infertility diseases, including azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermic. We selected 13 miRNAs with altered expressions in testis tissue (hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-193a-3p, hsa-miR-19a-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p, hsa-miR-30b-5p, hsa-miR-34b-5p, hsa-miR-34c-5p, hsa-miR-374b-5p, hsa-miR-449a, hsa-miR-574-3p and hsa-miR-92a-3p), and systematically examine the mechanisms of four relevant miRNAs (hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-19a-3p, hsa-miR-92a-3p and hsa-miR-30b-5p) which we found that regulated a large number of proteins. An interaction network was generated, and its connections allowed us to identify signalling pathways and interactions between proteins associated with male infertility. In this way, we confirm that the most affected and relevant pathway is the PI3K-Akt signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Burgos
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepcion, Chile
| | - R Cikutovic
- Universidad de Talca, Talca, 360000 Maule, Chile
| | - M Alarcón
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunohaematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
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Werry N, Russell SJ, Gillis DJ, Miller S, Hickey K, Larmer S, Lohuis M, Librach C, LaMarre J. Characteristics of miRNAs Present in Bovine Sperm and Associations With Differences in Fertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:874371. [PMID: 35663333 PMCID: PMC9160602 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.874371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs have been linked to different phenotypes in bovine sperm, however attempts to identify sperm-borne molecular biomarkers of male fertility have thus far failed to identify a robust profile of expressed miRNAs related to fertility. We hypothesized that some differences in bull fertility may be reflected in the levels of different miRNAs in sperm. To explore such differences in fertility that are not due to differences in visible metrics of sperm quality, we employed Next Generation Sequencing to compare the miRNA populations in Bos taurus sperm from bulls with comparable motility and morphology but varying Sire Conception Rates. We identified the most abundant miRNAs in both populations (miRs -34b-3p; -100-5p; -191-5p; -30d-4p; -21-5p) and evaluated differences in the overall levels and specific patterns of isomiR expression. We also explored correlations between specific pairs of miRNAs in each population and identified 10 distinct pairs of miRNAs that were positively correlated in bulls with higher fertility and negatively correlated in comparatively less fertile individuals. Furthermore, 8 additional miRNA pairs demonstrated the opposite trend; negatively correlated in high fertility animals and positively correlated in less fertile bulls. Finally, we performed pathway analysis to identify potential roles of miRNAs present in bull sperm in the regulation of specific genes that impact spermatogenesis and embryo development. Together, these results present a comprehensive picture of the bovine sperm miRNAome that suggests multiple potential roles in fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Werry
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Daniel J. Gillis
- School of Computer Science, The University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Clifford Librach
- CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan LaMarre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Zhao N, Jia L, Deng Q, Zhu C, Zhang B. Comparative piRNAs Profiles Give a Clue to Transgenerational Inheritance of Sex-Biased piRNAs in Cynoglossus semilaevis. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:335-344. [PMID: 35290559 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10109-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Piwi interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are involved in the epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene silencing of retrotransposons in germ line cells, especially in spermatogenesis. There are many related reports on model organisms, such as flies and mice. In fish, however, there are few studies on piRNAs. Cynoglossus semilaevis, a benthic warm water flatfish, with remarkable sexual dimorphism, especially the "pseudo males" with sex reversal, mating with normal females to produce viable offspring, is an ideal material for the study of sex development. Here, sperm piwi-interacting RNAs profiles of Cynoglossus semilaevis were characterized, comparing between male and pseudomale groups. Differential piRNAs were identified with their predicted and annotated targets. Attention was then focused on candidate piRNAs associated with sex development and methylation. We continued to compare the expression levels of 10 candidates differentially expressed piRNAs in F1 spermatozoa. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that five of the ten piRNAs showed sex bias consistent with parental sequencing results, with four significantly higher expression level in sperm of five males offspring than that of pseudomales, while one piRNAs showed the opposite expression profile. The five signature piRNAs (piR-mmu-49600337, piR-mmu-95849, piR-xtr-7474223, piR-xtr-1790334, and piR-mmu-4491546) could be employed as male-specific molecular biomarkers for C. semilaevis. Besides, this study also implied the possibility of transgenerational inheritance of sex-biased piRNAs exiting in sperm of Cynoglossus semilaevis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, 524000, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Shanghai Ocean University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Tianjin Fisheries Research Institute, Tianjin, 300201, China
| | - Qiuxia Deng
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, 524000, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Chunhua Zhu
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, 524000, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, 524000, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, China.
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Klein EK, Swegen A, Gunn AJ, Stephen CP, Aitken RJ, Gibb Z. The future of assessing bull fertility: Can the 'omics fields identify usable biomarkers? Biol Reprod 2022; 106:854-864. [PMID: 35136971 PMCID: PMC9113469 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Breeding soundness examinations for bulls rely heavily on the subjective, visual assessment of sperm motility and morphology. Although these criteria have the potential to identify infertile males, they cannot be used to guarantee fertility or provide information about varying degrees of bull fertility. Male factor fertility is complex, and the success of the male gamete is not necessarily realized until well after the spermatozoon enters the oocyte. This paper reviews our existing knowledge of the bull’s contribution from a standpoint of the sperm’s cargo and the impact that this can have on fertilization and the development of the embryo. There has been a plethora of recent research characterizing the many molecular attributes that can affect the functional competence of a spermatozoon. A better understanding of the molecular factors influencing fertilization and embryo development in cattle will lead to the identification of biomarkers for the selection of bulls of superior fertility, which will have major implications for livestock production. To see this improvement in reproductive performance, we believe incorporation of modern technology into breeding soundness examinations will be necessary—although many of the discussed technologies are not ready for large-scale field application. Each of the ‘omics fields discussed in this review have shown promise for the identification of biomarkers of fertility, with certain families of biomarkers appearing to be better suited to different evaluations throughout a bull’s lifetime. Further research is needed for the proposed biomarkers to be of diagnostic or predictive value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K Klein
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Aleona Swegen
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Allan J Gunn
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Cyril P Stephen
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.,Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Zamira Gibb
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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Wang Y, Yuan X, Ali MA, Qin Z, Zhang Y, Zeng C. piR-121380 Is Involved in Cryo-Capacitation and Regulates Post-Thawed Boar Sperm Quality Through Phosphorylation of ERK2 via Targeting PTPN7. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:792994. [PMID: 35155446 PMCID: PMC8826432 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.792994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation induces capacitation-like (cryo-capacitation) changes, similar to natural capacitation, and affects the fertility potential of post-thawed sperm. The molecular mechanism of sperm cryo-capacitation during cryopreservation remains unknown. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been reported to be involved in cryo-capacitation of post-thawed sperm and regulation of sperm motility, capacitation, and chemotaxis. In this study, protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 7 (PTPN7) was positively targeted by piR-121380 after a dual luciferase assay. The mRNA expression of PTPN7 and piR-121380 was significantly decreased (p < 0.01); however, PTPN7 protein was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in post-thawed boar sperm. Furthermore, E1RK1/2 phosphorylation was reduced during cryopreservation. Six hours after transfection with piR-121380 mimic and inhibitor, the phosphorylation of ERK2 was significantly increased and decreased (p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, the highest and lowest total sperm motility, forward motility, and capacitation rate were observed after piR-121380 mimic and inhibitor treatments, respectively. The concentration of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) showed no significant difference after transfection with either piR-121380 mimic or inhibitor at 1, 3, and 6 h. In conclusion, we demonstrated that piR-121380 modulates ERK2 phosphorylation by targeting PTPN7, which induces sperm cryo-capacitation, and eventually affects the motility and fertility potential of post-thawed sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Wang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Yuan
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Malik Ahsan Ali
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Theriogenology, Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ziyue Qin
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changjun Zeng
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Changjun Zeng,
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Zhou G, Zhang M, Zhang J, Feng Y, Xie Z, Liu S, Zhu D, Luo Y. The gene regulatory role of non-coding RNAs in non-obstructive azoospermia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:959487. [PMID: 36060931 PMCID: PMC9436424 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.959487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs are classified as small non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, which are involved in a variety of biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and pathological conditions of various diseases. Many studies have shown that non-coding RNAs are related to spermatogenesis, maturation, apoptosis, function, etc. In addition, the expression of non-coding RNAs in testicular tissue and semen of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia was different. However, the role of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia has not been fully elucidated, and the role of non-coding RNAs in non-obstructive azoospermia is rarely reviewed. Here we summarize the research progress of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqing Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mimi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingzhi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaofeng Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhishen Xie
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyi Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Detu Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yumei Luo, ; Detu Zhu,
| | - Yumei Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, Kingmed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yumei Luo, ; Detu Zhu,
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Keyser S, van der Horst G, Maree L. New Approaches to Define The Functional Competency of Human Sperm Subpopulations and Its Relationship to Semen Quality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY 2022; 16:140-151. [PMID: 36029048 PMCID: PMC9396000 DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.531517.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed at comparing a comprehensive set of functional and structural sperm characteristics between sperm motility fractions and correlating results to the standard semen parameters. By grouping related variables, our objective was to establish the predictive power of semen parameters and whether they accurately reflect the functionality of sperm motility fractions or merely a small set of parameters within individual fractions.<br />Materials and Methods: In this non-invasive experimental study, donor semen samples (n=55) were separated via<br />double density gradient centrifugation, isolating a high (HM) and low motile (LM) sperm fraction. Fractions were evaluated for percentage vitality, chromatin integrity, mature spermatozoa, motility and kinematic parameters, hyperactivation, positive reactive oxygen species, intact mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and acrosome reaction.<br />Results: HM fractions had significantly (P<0.001) enhanced percentages of induced acrosome reaction (HM, 55.6 ±<br />14.3%, LM, 25.0 ± 16.5%), motility and kinematic parameters, hyperactivation, vitality (HM, 70.4 ± 9.7%, LM, 47.9<br />± 10.3%), mitochondrial membrane intactness (HM, 67.2 ± 10.4%, LM, 44.7 ± 15.0%) and mature spermatozoa (HM,<br />83.4 ± 10.0%, LM, 64.6 ± 8.2%) with intact chromatin (HM, 80.5 ± 8.1%, LM, 71.3 ± 8.0%). Various sperm morphology abnormalities correlated with LM fractions' grouped motility parameters (range, 0.46 to 0.51; range -0.4 to<br />-0.75), whereas combined semen traits of total motility, progressive motility, viscosity and mucus penetration (MPT) correlated with HM fractions' grouped motility parameters (range, 0.44 to 0.84). CONCLUSION Collectively, total and progressive motility, viscosity and MPT may represent a reliable grouping of semen parameters for predicting the quality of HM sperm fractions. Separating the same donor semen samples into two significantly diverse motility sperm fractions could be a potential model in mimicking the qualities of fertile and sub-fertile males' sperm populations and used for future research on the improvement of sperm subpopulations from males with different fertility statuses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Liana Maree
- Department of Medical BioscienceUniversity of the
Western CapePrivate Bag X17BellvilleSouth Africa
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Sahoo B, Choudhary RK, Sharma P, Choudhary S, Gupta MK. Significance and Relevance of Spermatozoal RNAs to Male Fertility in Livestock. Front Genet 2021; 12:768196. [PMID: 34956322 PMCID: PMC8696160 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.768196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock production contributes to a significant part of the economy in developing countries. Although artificial insemination techniques brought substantial improvements in reproductive efficiency, male infertility remains a leading challenge in livestock. Current strategies for the diagnosis of male infertility largely depend on the evaluation of semen parameters and fail to diagnose idiopathic infertility in most cases. Recent evidences show that spermatozoa contains a suit of RNA population whose profile differs between fertile and infertile males. Studies have also demonstrated the crucial roles of spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) in spermatogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Thus, the spRNA profile may serve as unique molecular signatures of fertile sperm and may play pivotal roles in the diagnosis and treatment of male fertility. This manuscript provides an update on various spRNA populations, including protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, in livestock species and their potential role in semen quality, particularly sperm motility, freezability, and fertility. The contribution of seminal plasma to the spRNA population is also discussed. Furthermore, we discussed the significance of rare non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in spermatogenic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, India
| | - Ratan K Choudhary
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Paramajeet Sharma
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Shanti Choudhary
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, India
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Kiefer H, Sellem E, Bonnet-Garnier A, Pannetier M, Costes V, Schibler L, Jammes H. The epigenome of male germ cells and the programming of phenotypes in cattle. Anim Front 2021; 11:28-38. [PMID: 34934527 PMCID: PMC8683155 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfab062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Kiefer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Amélie Bonnet-Garnier
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Maëlle Pannetier
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Valentin Costes
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.,R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France
| | | | - Hélène Jammes
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Sellem E, Jammes H, Schibler L. Sperm-borne sncRNAs: potential biomarkers for semen fertility? Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:160-173. [PMID: 35231268 DOI: 10.1071/rd21276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Semen infertility or sub-fertility, whether in humans or livestock species, remains a major concern for clinicians and technicians involved in reproduction. Indeed, they can cause tragedies in human relationships or have a dramatic overall negative impact on the sustainability of livestock breeding. Understanding and predicting semen fertility issues is therefore crucial and quality control procedures as well as biomarkers have been proposed to ensure sperm fertility. However, their predictive values appeared to be too limited and additional relevant biomarkers are still required to diagnose sub-fertility efficiently. During the last decade, the study of molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation highlighted the regulatory role of a variety of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and led to the discovery that sperm sncRNAs comprise both remnants from spermatogenesis and post-testicular sncRNAs acquired through interactions with extracellular vesicles along epididymis. This has led to the hypothesis that sncRNAs may be a source of relevant biomarkers, associated either with sperm functionality or embryo development. This review aims at providing a synthetic overview of the current state of knowledge regarding implication of sncRNA in spermatogenesis defects and their putative roles in sperm maturation and embryo development, as well as exploring their use as fertility biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Hélène Jammes
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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Hitit M, Özbek M, Ayaz-Guner S, Guner H, Oztug M, Bodu M, Kirbas M, Bulbul B, Bucak MN, Ataman MB, Memili E, Kaya A. Proteomic fertility markers in ram sperm. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 235:106882. [PMID: 34823050 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Precise estimation of ram fertility is important for sheep farming to sustain reproduction efficiency and profitability of production. There, however, is no conventional method to accurately predict ram fertility. The objective of this study, therefore, was to ascertain proteomic profiles of ram sperm having contrasting fertility phenotypes. Mature rams (n = 66) having greater pregnancy rates than average (89.4 ± 7.2%) were assigned into relatively-greater fertility (GF; n = 31; 94.5 ± 2.8%) whereas those with less-than-average pregnancy rates were assigned into a lesser-fertility (LF; n = 25; 83.1 ± 5.73%; P = 0.028) group. Sperm samples from the outlier greatest- and least-fertility rams (n = 6, pregnancy rate; 98.4 ± 1.8% and 76.1 ± 3.9%) were used for proteomics assessments utilizing Label-free LC-MS/MS. A total of 997 proteins were identified, and among these, 840 were shared by both groups, and 57 and 93 were unique to GF and LF, respectively. Furthermore, 190 differentially abundant proteins were identified; the abundance of 124 was larger in GF while 66 was larger in LF rams. The GF ram sperm had 79 GO/pathway terms in ten major biological networks while there were 47 GO/pathway terms in six biological networks in sperm of LF rams. Accordingly, differential abundances of sperm proteins between sperm of GF and LF rams were indicative of functional implications of sperm proteome on male fertility. The results of this study emphasize there are potential protein markers for evaluation of semen quality and estimation of ram sperm fertilizing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Hitit
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Özbek
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
| | - Serife Ayaz-Guner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Life and Natural Science, Abdullah Gül University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Huseyin Guner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Life and Natural Science, Abdullah Gül University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Merve Oztug
- National Metrology Institute, TUBITAK UME, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Bodu
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mesut Kirbas
- Bahri Dagdas International Agricultural Research Institute, Konya, Turkey
| | - Bulent Bulbul
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Numan Bucak
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Bozkurt Ataman
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Erdoğan Memili
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States; Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, United States.
| | - Abdullah Kaya
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
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Comprehensive Analysis of miRNAs and Target mRNAs between Immature and Mature Testis Tissue in Chinese Red Steppes Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113024. [PMID: 34827757 PMCID: PMC8614260 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary MicroRNAs are small molecules that can regulate the relative abundance of their target genes by binding to the 3′ untranslated region of the target genes at the post-transcriptional level to affect various biological processes, such as biosynthesis, fat metabolism and proliferation, apoptosis, and cell differentiation. Fertility is one of the most important economic traits in livestock production. Bulls require the continuous production of high-quality spermatozoa in abundance. The quality of semen is an exceptionally important factor affecting the fertilization rate of the dairy cow and is also associated with the increasing conception rate in the process of artificial insemination. Therefore, accurately predicting fertility potential for a semen sample from donor bull for artificial insemination is crucial for consistently high reproductive efficiency. The present study performed a genome-wide sequencing analysis of microRNAs and mRNAs between immature and mature testes of Chinese Red Steppes. These results provide novel candidate microRNAs and functional genes related to bull reproduction traits and the networks between microRNAs and target genes, which will provide a useful genetic mechanism and epigenetic information for marker-assisted selection of bulls with excellent sperm quality in the future. Abstract This study aims to screen potential regulators and regulate fecundity networks between microRNAs (miRNAs) and target genes. The bovine testes of immature and mature Chinese Red Steppes were performed by genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and miRNAs. Compared with testicular tissues of newborns, 6051 upregulated genes and 7104 downregulated genes in adult cattle were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were significantly enriched in 808 GO terms (p < 0.05) including male gonad development, male genitalia development, spermatogenesis, and sperm motility. Moreover, DEGs were also significantly enriched in 105 KEGG pathways (p < 0.05), including cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. To explore the expression of miRNA-regulated gene expression, 896 differentially expressed target genes negatively regulated with the expression levels of 31 differentially expressed miRNAs (DERs) were predicted and analyzed, and a network-integrated analysis was constructed. Furthermore, real-time PCR was performed to verify the expression levels of DEGs and DERs. Our results identified novel candidate DEGs and DERs correlated with male reproduction and intricate regulating networks between miRNAs and genes, which will be valuable for future genetic and epigenetic studies of sperm development and maturity, as well as providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of male fertility and spermatogenesis in cattle.
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Güngör BH, Tektemur A, Arkali G, Dayan Cinkara S, Acisu TC, Koca RH, Etem Önalan E, Özer Kaya S, Kizil M, Sönmez M, Gür S, Çambay Z, Yüce A, Türk G. Effect of freeze-thawing process on lipid peroxidation, miRNAs, ion channels, apoptosis and global DNA methylation in ram spermatozoa. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 33:747-759. [PMID: 34585662 DOI: 10.1071/rd21091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the semen freeze-thawing process on the functionality and molecular structure of ram spermatozoa. The temperature of pooled and diluted semen at 38°C (group 1, control) was lowered to 5°C (group 2), and it was subjected to glycerolisation-equilibration (group 3), frozen and thawed (group 4). Compared to the control, deterioration in spermatological parameters and significant increases in lipid peroxidation and global DNA methylation levels were observed in groups 3 and 4. When compared with the control, significant downregulation in the levels of miR-485 of group 2, miR-29a of group 3 and let-7a, miR-485 and miR-29a of group 4, and significant upregulation in the levels of miR-107 of group 3 and miR-127 of groups 3 and 4 were detected. In comparison to the control, significant upregulation in the levels of CatSper1, CatSper2, CatSper3, CatSper4, ANO1 and TRPM3 of group 2, CatSper4, ANO1 and TRPM3 of group 3 and KCNJ11 of group 4, and significant downregulation in the CatSper 3 level of group 4 were determined. As a result, the semen freeze-thawing process causes motility and morphological disorders in rams. This may be due to molecular changes associated with lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahim Halil Güngör
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tektemur
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Gözde Arkali
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Serap Dayan Cinkara
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Tutku Can Acisu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Recep Hakki Koca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Bingöl University, Bingöl, Turkey
| | - Ebru Etem Önalan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Seyma Özer Kaya
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Meltem Kizil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Sönmez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Seyfettin Gür
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Zafer Çambay
- Department of Medical Services and Technics, Firat University, High School of Medical Services, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Abdurrauf Yüce
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Gaffari Türk
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
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Domingues WB, Silveira TLR, Nunes LS, Blodorn EB, Schneider A, Corcine CD, Varela Junior AS, Acosta IB, Kütter MT, Greif G, Robello C, Pinhal D, Marins LF, Campos VF. GH Overexpression Alters Spermatic Cells MicroRNAome Profile in Transgenic Zebrafish. Front Genet 2021; 12:704778. [PMID: 34567067 PMCID: PMC8455951 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.704778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of growth hormone (GH) in gh-transgenic zebrafish of a highly studied lineage F0104 has earlier been reported to cause increased muscle growth. In addition to this, GH affects a broad range of cellular processes in transgenic fish, such as morphology, physiology, and behavior. Reports show changes such as decreased sperm quality and reduced reproductive performance in transgenic males. It is hypothesized that microRNAs are directly involved in the regulation of fertility potential during spermatogenesis. The primary aim of our study was to verify whether gh overexpression disturbs the sperm miRNA profile and influences the sperm quality in transgenic zebrafish. We report a significant increase in body weight of gh-transgenic males along with associated reduced sperm motility and other kinetic parameters in comparison to the non-transgenic group. MicroRNA transcriptome sequencing of gh-transgenic zebrafish sperms revealed expressions of 186 miRNAs, among which six miRNA were up-regulated (miR-146b, miR-200a-5p, miR-146a, miR-726, miR-184, and miR-738) and sixteen were down-regulated (miR-19d-3p, miR-126a-5p, miR-126b-5p, miR-22a-5p, miR-16c-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-126b-3p, miR-107a-3p, miR-93, miR-2189, miR-202–5p, miR-221–3p, miR-125a, miR-125b-5p, miR-126a-3p, and miR-30c-5p) in comparison to non-transgenic zebrafish. Some of the dysregulated miRNAs were previously reported to be related to abnormalities in sperm quality and reduced reproduction ability in other species. In this study, an average of 134 differentially expressed miRNAs-targeted genes were predicted using the in silico approach. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that the genes of affected pathways were primarily related to spermatogenesis, sperm motility, and cell apoptosis. Our results suggested that excess GH caused a detrimental effect on sperm microRNAome, consequently reducing the sperm quality and reproductive potential of zebrafish males.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Domingues
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Tony L R Silveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Leandro S Nunes
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Eduardo B Blodorn
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schneider
- Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Carine D Corcine
- ReproPel, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Antônio S Varela Junior
- ReproPel, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Izani B Acosta
- ReproPel, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Mateus T Kütter
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Danillo Pinhal
- Laboratório Genômica e Evolução Molecular Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Luís F Marins
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Vinicius F Campos
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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50
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Turri F, Capra E, Lazzari B, Cremonesi P, Stella A, Pizzi F. A Combined Flow Cytometric Semen Analysis and miRNA Profiling as a Tool to Discriminate Between High- and Low-Fertility Bulls. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:703101. [PMID: 34355036 PMCID: PMC8329915 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.703101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting bull fertility is one of the main challenges for the dairy breeding industry and artificial insemination (AI) centers. Semen evaluation performed in the AI center is not fully reliable to determine the level of bull fertility. Spermatozoa are rich in active miRNA. Specific sperm-borne miRNAs can be linked to fertility. The aim of our study is to propose a combined flow cytometric analysis and miRNA profiling of semen bulls with different fertility to identify markers that can be potentially used for the prediction of field fertility. Sperm functions were analyzed in frozen-thawed semen doses (CG: control group) and high-quality sperm (HQS) fraction collected from bulls with different field fertility levels (estimated relative conception rate or ERCR) by using advanced techniques, such as the computer-assisted semen analysis system, flow cytometry, and small RNA-sequencing. Fertility groups differ for total and progressive motility and in the abnormality degree of the chromatin structure (P < 0.05). A backward, stepwise, multiple regression analysis was applied to define a model with high relation between in vivo (e.g., ERCR) and in vitro (i.e., semen quality and DE-miRNA) fertility data. The analysis produced two models that accounted for more than 78% of the variation of ERCR (CG: R2 = 0.88; HQS: R2 = 0.78), identifying a suitable combination of parameters useful to predict bull fertility. The predictive equation on CG samples included eight variables: four kinetic parameters and four DNA integrity indicators. For the HQS fraction, the predictive equation included five variables: three kinetic parameters and two DNA integrity indicators. A significant relationship was observed between real and predicted fertility in CG (R2 = 0.88) and HQS fraction (R2 = 0.82). We identified 15 differentially expressed miRNAs between high- and low-fertility bulls, nine of which are known (miR-2285n, miR-378, miR-423-3p, miR-191, miR-2904, miR-378c, miR-431, miR-486, miR-2478) while the remaining are novel. The multidimensional preference analysis model partially separates bulls according to their fertility, clustering three semen quality variable groups relative to motility, DNA integrity, and viability. A positive association between field fertility, semen quality parameters, and specific miRNAs was revealed. The integrated approach could provide a model for bull selection in AI centers, increasing the reproductive efficiency of livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Turri
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
| | - Emanuele Capra
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
| | - Barbara Lazzari
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
| | - Paola Cremonesi
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stella
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
| | - Flavia Pizzi
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Lodi, Italy
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