Further Insights on RNA Expression and Sperm Motility

Genes (Basel). 2022 Jul 21;13(7):1291. doi: 10.3390/genes13071291.

Abstract

Asthenozoospermia is one of the main causes of male infertility and it is characterized by reduced sperm motility. Several mutations in genes that code for structural or functional constituents of the sperm have already been identified as known causes of asthenozoospermia. In contrast, the role of sperm RNA in regulating sperm motility is still not fully understood. Consequently, here we aim to contribute to the knowledge regarding the expression of sperm RNA, and ultimately, to provide further insights into its relationship with sperm motility. We investigated the expression of a group of mRNAs by using real-time PCR (CATSPER3, CFAP44, CRHR1, HIP1, IQCG KRT34, LRRC6, QRICH2, RSPH6A, SPATA33 and TEKT2) and the highest score corresponding to the target miRNA for each mRNA in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic individuals. We observed a reduced expression of all mRNAs and miRNAs in asthenozoospermic patients compared to controls, with a more accentuated reduction in patients with progressive sperm motility lower than 15%. Our work provides further insights regarding the role of RNA in regulating sperm motility. Further studies are required to determine how these genes and their corresponding miRNA act regarding sperm motility, particularly KRT34 and CRHR1, which have not previously been seen to play a significant role in regulating sperm motility.

Keywords: RNA; gene expression; male reproduction; quantitative PCR; sperm motility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthenozoospermia* / genetics
  • Asthenozoospermia* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Semen / metabolism
  • Sperm Motility / genetics
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism

Substances

  • CATSPER3 protein, human
  • Ion Channels
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB) is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) Portugal (grant numbers UIDB/00215/2020 and UIDP/00215/2020) and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research (ITR) in Population Health (LA/P/0064/2020).