miR-17-5p in bovine oviductal fluid affects embryo development

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2022 Jul 1:551:111651. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2022.111651. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Abstract

This study identified microRNAs (miRNAs) in bovine oviductal fluids (OFs) and examined the effect of miR-17-5p in OFs on embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. Small RNA-seq of extracellular vesicles of OFs revealed 242 miRNAs. Additionally, analyzing expressions of randomly selected OF-miRNAs with RT-qPCR in the culture medium of oviductal epithelial cells indicated that the abundance of miRNAs in OFs increased during the luteal phase. miR-17-5p mimic-treated eight-cell-stage zona pellucida-free embryos showed improved embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. The effect of the miR-17-5p mimic was confirmed using a dual-luciferase assay and immunostaining. In addition, RNA-seq of the miR-17-5p mimic- or control-treated embryos revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs), suggesting possible pathways that overlapped with the in silico-predicted pathways for miR-17-5p targeting genes. Furthermore, ingenuity pathway analysis of DEG predicted miR-17 to be a significant upstream regulator. Our results suggest that miR-17-5p in OFs regulates embryonic development in bovines.

Keywords: Bovine; Embryo development; Gene expression; Oviductal fluid; miRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Embryonic Development / genetics
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / metabolism
  • Fallopian Tubes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA-Seq

Substances

  • MIRN17 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs