Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion
10:23

Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion

Published on: August 25, 2018

9.8K

Dysregulation of an X-linked primate-specific epididymal microRNA cluster in unexplained asthenozoospermia

Xingrong Qing1, Jian Shi1, Tingting Dong1,2

  • 1Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Oncotarget
|September 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Reduced sperm motility, or asthenozoospermia, is a key cause of male infertility. This study identifies specific microRNAs from the epididymis in semen as potential biomarkers for unexplained asthenozoospermia, offering a noninvasive diagnostic approach.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Male infertility research

Background:

  • Asthenozoospermia, characterized by reduced sperm motility, is a major cause of male infertility, with many cases classified as unexplained (UA).
  • Epididymal epigenetic dysregulation is implicated in sperm maturation defects and asthenozoospermia in animal models.
  • Human epididymal research is limited by tissue accessibility, necessitating alternative methods for studying epididymal function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate microRNA dysregulation in the epididymis as a potential epigenetic cause of unexplained asthenozoospermia in humans.
  • To establish a noninvasive method for assessing epididymal epigenetic status using cell-free seminal microRNAs.

Main Methods:

  • Screening and validation of cell-free seminal microRNAs in human ejaculate from men with unexplained asthenozoospermia.
  • Analysis of a primate-specific microRNA cluster on the X chromosome known to be expressed in the epididymis.
  • Correlation analysis between microRNA levels and sperm motility parameters.

Main Results:

  • Five specific microRNAs (miR-891b, miR-892b, miR-892a, miR-888, miR-890) were found to be dysregulated in men with unexplained asthenozoospermia.
  • These dysregulated microRNAs belong to a primate-specific, epididymis-specific miRNA cluster on the X chromosome.
  • Coherent dysregulation of this miRNA cluster was observed in 13% of men with UA and significantly correlated with progressive sperm motility.

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulation of this epididymis-specific miRNA cluster may represent an epigenetic basis for a subset of unexplained asthenozoospermia cases.
  • Cell-free seminal microRNAs provide a feasible and noninvasive approach to obtain epigenetic information from the human epididymis.
  • This finding opens new avenues for diagnosing and understanding male infertility related to epididymal dysfunction.
Keywords:
epididymal miRNAepigenetic basisprimate specificsperm maturationunexplained asthenozoospermia

More Related Videos

Hypoxia Alters miRNAs Levels Involved in Non-Mendelian Inheritance of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mice09:13

Hypoxia Alters miRNAs Levels Involved in Non-Mendelian Inheritance of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mice

Published on: July 11, 2025

31.0K
CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis10:40

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis

Published on: April 25, 2022

2.9K

Related Concept Videos

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness02:19

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
8.6K
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
109.6K
Infertility in Males01:23

Infertility in Males

Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
609
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
4.2K
Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold...
5.3K
X-Inactivation01:58

X-Inactivation

The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
42.8K