Department of Animal, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2012 Sep 14;10:82. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-10-82.
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and thus play important roles in mammalian development. However, the comprehensive lists of microRNAs, as well as, molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression during gamete and embryo development are poorly defined. The objectives of this study were to determine microRNAs in bull sperm and predict their functions.
To accomplish our objectives we isolated miRNAs from sperm of high and low fertility bulls, conducted microRNA microarray experiments and validated expression of a panel of microRNAs using real time RT-PCR. Bioinformatic approaches were carried out to identify regulated targets.
We demonstrated that an abundance of microRNAs were present in bovine spermatozoa, however, only seven were differentially expressed; hsa-aga-3155, -8197, -6727, -11796, -14189, -6125, -13659. The abundance of miRNAs in the spermatozoa and the differential expression in sperm from high vs. low fertility bulls suggests that the miRNAs possibly play important functions in the regulating mechanisms of bovine spermatozoa.
Identification of specific microRNAs expressed in spermatozoa of bulls with different fertility phenotypes will help better understand mammalian gametogenesis and early development.
微小 RNA 是一类小的非编码 RNA，可调节基因表达，因此在哺乳动物的发育中发挥重要作用。然而，microRNA 的综合列表，以及 microRNA 调节配子和胚胎发育过程中基因表达的分子机制，还没有得到很好的定义。本研究的目的是确定公牛精子中的 microRNA，并预测其功能。
为了实现我们的目标，我们从高、低生育能力公牛的精子中分离出 microRNA，进行 microRNA 微阵列实验，并使用实时 RT-PCR 验证一组 microRNA 的表达。采用生物信息学方法来识别调控靶标。
我们证明了大量的 microRNA 存在于牛精子中，但只有 7 个存在差异表达；hsa-aga-3155、-8197、-6727、-11796、-14189、-6125、-13659。精子中 microRNA 的丰度和高与低生育力公牛精子中差异表达的 microRNA 表明，这些 microRNA 可能在牛精子的调节机制中发挥重要作用。
鉴定出在不同生育力表型的公牛精子中表达的特定 microRNA，将有助于更好地理解哺乳动物配子发生和早期发育。
