Expression analysis of microRNAs and their target mRNAs of testes with high and low sperm motility in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

Sperm motility is one of the most important indicators to evaluate poultry fertility. In order to explore key molecular regulation roles related to sperm motility, we employed testicular RNA sequencing of pigeon. A total of 705 known and 385 novel microRNAs were identified. Compared with the low sperm motility group, four upregulated and two downregulated miRNAs in the high sperm motility group were identified. A total of 3567 target mRNAs were predicted and four target mRNAs were selected to validate by qPCR. The miRNA-mRNA interaction network analysis, indicated that mmu-miR-183-5p /FOXO1 and PC-3p-244994_31/CHDH pairs might affect sperm motility. GO and KEGG annotation analysis showed that target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were related to serine/threonine kinase activity, ATP binding, Wnt and MAPK signaling pathway. The study provided a global miRNAs transcriptome of pigeon and a novel insight into the expression of the miRNAs in testes that associated with sperm motility.

Automated summary

RNA sequencing of pigeon testicles identified multiple miRNAs associated with sperm motility, with mmu-miR-183-5p/FOXO1 and PC-3p-244994_31/CHDH pairs potentially affecting sperm motility.GO and KEGG analysis revealed target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were related to kinase activity and signaling pathways.