Guelfi Gabriella, Stefanetti Valentina, De Luca Silvio, Giontella Andrea, Barile Vittoria Lucia, Barbato Olimpia
Department of Veterinary Medicine, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Res Vet Sci. 2017 Dec;115:294-300. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 4.
MiRNAs (microRNA) constitute a large family of single-stranded, non-coding small RNAs. Although the functions and target genes of most miRNAs are still unknown, it has been well established that they are involved in embryogenesis, organogenesis and neonatal birth. In recent decades, interest in buffalo breeding has largely increased worldwide thus focusing the attention on this species as a dairy purpose animal. Problems related to long calving interval, late puberty and seasonal anestrus hamper reproductive efficiency in this species. Early pregnancy diagnosis is important to shorten the calving interval and increase lifetime production on dairy animals. MicroRNAs have recently emerged as key molecules in fertilization of several species even though in buffalo, few previous studies have investigated miRNAs. The aim of this research was to identify the best miRNA reference in serum among miR-191, miR-25-3p, SNORD44, and SNORD48. Consequently, assess the expression levels of miR-103, miR-200b, miR-301a, miR-423-5p, miR-375, miR-451 and miR-452 involved in buffalo progesterone-maturation oocyte and pregnancy. Interestingly, we found that all the miRNAs analyzed at 40days after artificial insemination were differentially expressed among pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo. Our research may be a first step for gain further insight in the biological function of circulating miRNAs in this species.
微小RNA（miRNA）构成了一个由单链非编码小RNA组成的大家族。尽管大多数miRNA的功能和靶基因仍不清楚，但它们参与胚胎发生、器官发生和新生儿出生这一点已得到充分证实。近几十年来，全球范围内对水牛养殖的兴趣大幅增加，因此将注意力集中在这个作为乳用动物的物种上。与产犊间隔长、初情期晚和季节性发情相关的问题阻碍了该物种的繁殖效率。早期妊娠诊断对于缩短产犊间隔和提高奶牛的终身产量很重要。尽管在水牛中，以前很少有研究调查miRNA，但最近它们已成为几种物种受精过程中的关键分子。本研究的目的是在miR-191、miR-25-3p、SNORD44和SNORD48中确定血清中最佳的miRNA参照。因此评估参与水牛孕酮成熟卵母细胞和妊娠的miR-103、miR-200b、miR-301a、miR-423-5p、miR-375、miR-451和miR-452的表达水平。有趣的是，我们发现人工授精后40天分析的所有miRNA在怀孕和未怀孕的水牛中表达存在差异。我们的研究可能是进一步深入了解该物种中循环miRNA生物学功能的第一步。
