Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Biotechnology and Bioscience Research Center, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
Reprod Sci. 2022 Jan;29(1):84-90. doi: 10.1007/s43032-021-00733-w. Epub 2021 Sep 7.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in regulatory functions during gametogenesis. There is evidence that dysregulation of miR-34c-5p is implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility. Whether miR-34c-5p expression could represent the semen quality and be useful in prediction of the fertilizing ability in normozoospermic men was examined in this study. Normozoospermic infertile patients (n = 15) and fertile men (n = 15) were recruited from the Infertility Clinic of Ahvaz, Iran. Sperm contents of miR-34c-5p transcript in were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. No significant differences were seen in semen characteristics between patients and fertile men. Infertile patients showed significant (p = 0.019) lower contents of sperm miR-34c-5p than fertile controls. Men with lower transcript contents of miR-34c-5p exhibit lower sperm motility and normal morphology. Sperm miR-34c-5p transcript with a relatively good diagnostic power discriminated unexplained infertile men (AUC = 0.751, 95% CI: 0.568-0.934; p = 0.019). Our findings show that sperm contents of miR-34c-5p transcript could reflect the quality of spermatozoa in etiology of unexplained male infertility and be helpful in predicting a successful pregnancy.
微小 RNA（miRNAs）在配子发生过程中的调节功能中发挥着重要作用。有证据表明，miR-34c-5p 的失调与男性不育症的发病机制有关。本研究旨在探讨 miR-34c-5p 的表达是否可以代表精液质量，并有助于预测正常精子男性的受精能力。
从伊朗阿瓦兹的不孕诊所招募了正常精子不育患者（n=15）和正常生育男性（n=15）。使用实时聚合酶链反应评估精子中 miR-34c-5p 转录物的含量。患者和正常生育男性的精液特征无显著差异。与正常生育对照组相比，不育患者的精子 miR-34c-5p 含量明显降低（p=0.019）。miR-34c-5p 转录物含量较低的男性精子运动能力和正常形态均较低。具有相对较好诊断能力的精子 miR-34c-5p 转录本可区分不明原因的不育男性（AUC=0.751，95%CI：0.568-0.934；p=0.019）。
我们的研究结果表明，精子 miR-34c-5p 转录物的含量可以反映不明原因男性不育症病因中精子的质量，并有助于预测成功妊娠。
