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

0576046 - ÚŽFG 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Sakr, O. G. - Gad, Ahmed - Canon-Beltran, K. - Cajas, Y. N. - Procházka, Radek - Rizos, D. - Rebollar, P. G.
Characterization and identification of extracellular vesicles-coupled miRNA profiles in seminal plasma of fertile and subfertile rabbit bucks.
Theriogenelogy. Roč. 209, OCT 1 (2023), s. 76-88. ISSN 0093-691X. E-ISSN 1879-3231
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT EF15_003/0000460
Institutional support: RVO:67985904
Keywords : Extracellular vesicles * Male fertility * miRNA * Seminal quality * Seminal plasma * Rabbit
OECD category: Developmental biology
Impact factor: 2.8, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X23002285?via%3Dihub

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.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0345941