The Sperm Small RNA Transcriptome: Implications beyond Reproductive Disorder

Apart from the paternal half of the genetic material, the male gamete carries assorted epigenetic marks for optimal fertilization and the developmental trajectory for the early embryo. Recent works showed dynamic changes in small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) in spermatozoa as they transit through the test...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2022-12, Vol.23 (24), p.15716
Main Authors: Chan, Sze Yan, Wan, Crystal Wing Tung, Law, Tin Yu Samuel, Chan, David Yiu Leung, Fok, Ellis Kin Lam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
DNA methylation
Embryos
Epididymis
Epididymis - metabolism
Epigenetics
Fertility
Fertilization
Genomes
Heredity
Humans
ICSI
Infertility
Male
male fertility
Metabolic disorders
MicroRNAs
Microscopy
paternal epigenetic inheritance
Proteins
Reproduction
Reproductive disorders
Reproductive technologies
Review
RNA polymerase
RNA, Small Untranslated - genetics
RNA, Small Untranslated - metabolism
Semen
Sperm
sperm epigenome
Spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - metabolism
Transcriptome
Transcriptomes
Transfer RNA
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Summary:Apart from the paternal half of the genetic material, the male gamete carries assorted epigenetic marks for optimal fertilization and the developmental trajectory for the early embryo. Recent works showed dynamic changes in small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) in spermatozoa as they transit through the testicular environment to the epididymal segments. Studies demonstrated the changes to be mediated by epididymosomes during the transit through the adluminal duct in the epididymis, and the changes in sperm sncRNA content stemmed from environmental insults significantly altering the early embryo development and predisposing the offspring to metabolic disorders. Here, we review the current knowledge on the establishment of the sperm sncRNA transcriptome and their role in male-factor infertility, evidence of altered offspring health in response to the paternal life experiences through sperm sncRNA species and, finally, their implications in assisted reproductive technology in terms of epigenetic inheritance.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms232415716