Further Insights on RNA Expression and Sperm Motility

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.

Automated summary

Asthenozoospermia, characterized by reduced sperm motility, is a major cause of male infertility. While mutations in genes coding for structural or functional constituents of sperm have been identified as known causes, the role of sperm RNA in regulating sperm motility is not fully understood. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of sperm RNA expression and its relationship with motility. The expression of a group of mRNAs and their corresponding miRNAs was found to be reduced in asthenozoospermic patients, particularly in those with lower progressive sperm motility. This study provides further insights into the role of RNA in regulating sperm motility and calls for further investigation of the genes and miRNAs involved.