Characterization and identification of extracellular vesicles-coupled miRNA profiles in seminal plasma of fertile and subfertile rabbit bucks

Seminal plasma (SP) provides essential nutrients, transport, and protection to the spermatozoa during their journey through the male and female reproductive tracts. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are one of the main components of the SP with several biomolecular cargoes, including miRNAs, that can influence spermatozoa functions and interact with the cells of the female reproductive tract. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the miRNA expression profiles in the SP-EVs isolated from fertile (F) and subfertile (S) rabbit bucks that could serve as fertility biomarkers. In this study, the methods to isolate and identify EVs including exosomes, from SP of 3 F and S bucks have been developed. Ultra-centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography analysis were using to isolate EVs from SP of F and S males that were qualitative and quantitively characterised using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blotting. In addition, total RNA, including miRNA, was iso-lated, sequenced and identified from SP-EVs samples. Different SP-EVs concentrations (8.53 x 10(11) +/- 1.04 x 10(11) and 1.84 x 10(12) +/- 1.75 x 10(11) particles/mL of SP; P = 0.008), with a similar average size (143.9 +/- 11.9 and 115.5 +/- 2.4 nm; P = 0.7422) in F and S males, respectively was observed. Particle size was not significantly correlated with any kinetic parameter. The concentration of SP-EVs was positively correlated with the percentage of abnormal forms (r = 0.94; P < 0.05) and with the percentage of immotile spermatozoa (r = 0.88; P < 0.05). Small-RNA-seq analysis identified a total of 267 and 244 expressed miRNAs in the F and S groups, respectively. Two miRNAs (let-7b-5p and let-7a-5p) were the top most abundant miRNAs in both groups. Differential expression analysis revealed that 9 miRNAs including miR-190b-5p, miR-193b-5p, let-7b-3p, and miR-378-3p, and another 9 miRNAs including miR-7a-5p, miR-33a-5p, miR-449a-5p, and miR-146a-5p were significantly up-and downregulated in the F compared to the S group, respectively. The SP from F and S rabbit males contains EVs with different miRNA cargo correlated with spermatogenesis, homeostasis, and infertility, which could be used as biomarkers for male fertility and potential therapies for assisted reproductive technologies. (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify the miRNA expression profiles in the seminal plasma extracellular vesicles (SP-EVs) isolated from fertile and subfertile rabbit bucks. The concentration of SP-EVs was positively correlated with abnormal forms and immotile spermatozoa. Small-RNA-seq analysis identified several miRNAs that were significantly up- and down-regulated in the fertile compared to the subfertile group. These findings suggest that SP-EVs with different miRNA cargo could serve as biomarkers for male fertility and potential therapies for assisted reproductive technologies.