The bull sperm microRNAome and the effect of fescue toxicosis on sperm microRNA expression

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 2;9(12):e113163. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113163. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub] accounts for nearly 16 million hectares of pasture in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. due to its heat, drought, and pest resistance, conferred to the plant by its symbiotic relationship with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum. The endophyte produces ergot alkaloids that have negative effects on the growth and reproduction of animals, resulting in the syndrome known as fescue toxicosis. The objectives of our study were to identify microRNA (miRNA) present in bovine sperm and to evaluate the effects of fescue toxicosis on sperm miRNA expression. Angus bulls were assigned to treatments of either toxic or non-toxic fescue seed diets. Semen was collected and subjected to RNA isolation. Three samples from each treatment group were chosen and pooled for deep sequencing. To compare miRNA expression between treatment groups, a microarray was designed and conducted. For each of the top ten expressed miRNA, target prediction analysis was conducted using TargetScan. Gene ontology enrichment was assessed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Sequencing results elucidated the presence of 1,582 unique small RNA present in sperm. Of those sequences, 382 were known Bos taurus miRNA, 22 were known but novel to Bos taurus, and 816 were predicted candidate miRNA that did not map to any currently reported miRNA. Of the sequences chosen for microarray, twenty-two showed significant differential expression between treatment groups. Gene pathways of interest included: regulation of transcription, embryonic development (including blastocyst formation), Wnt and Hedgehog signaling, oocyte meiosis, and kinase and phosphatase activity. MicroRNA present in mature sperm appears to not only be left over from spermatogenic processes, but may actually serve important regulatory roles in fertilization and early developmental processes. Further, our results indicate the possibility that environmental changes may impact the expression of specific miRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Husbandry*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / etiology
  • Cattle Diseases / genetics*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Festuca / toxicity*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Neotyphodium / pathogenicity
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / pathology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), under project number SC-1700376 and was supported by National Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2010-38942-20745 from the USDA NIFA and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (SKD, SLP, JGA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.