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Updated: Oct 17, 2025
08:48
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
Published on: April 21, 2022
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All you need to know about sperm RNAs.
Joana Santiago1, Joana V Silva1,2,3, John Howl4
1Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Human Reproduction Update
|October 8, 2021
Summary
Human sperm contain RNA, challenging previous beliefs. These sperm RNAs play crucial roles in fertilization, embryonic development, and may influence inheritance, offering potential biomarkers for male fertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Sperm were long considered transcriptionally and translationally inert due to nuclear condensation and organelle loss.
- However, various coding and non-coding RNAs have been detected in human sperm.
- The functions of these sperm RNAs in fertilization and early development are increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the origin, types, and functions of sperm RNAs.
- To assess their utility as biomarkers for male fertility and reproductive outcomes.
- To explore the role of sperm RNAs in intergenerational inheritance.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed using "sperm" AND "RNA" keywords.
- Focus on English articles published before August 2020.
- Analysis of findings from RNA sequencing and other molecular technologies.
Main Results:
- Advanced RNA technologies identified numerous transcripts in human sperm.
- Sperm RNAs originate from spermatogenesis, epididymis (via extracellular vesicles), and potentially de novo synthesis.
- These RNAs are vital for chromatin packaging, sperm maturation, fertilization, and embryogenesis.
- Evidence suggests sperm RNAs mediate intergenerational inheritance, affecting offspring genotype and phenotype.
- Significant differences exist in sperm RNA content between fertile and infertile men, influenced by external factors.
Conclusions:
- Sperm RNA profiles differ between fertile and infertile individuals.
- Sperm RNAs are potential biomarkers for male infertility and reproductive success.
- Understanding sperm RNA regulation may elucidate idiopathic male infertility causes.
- Transcriptional profiling can optimize assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and improve birth outcomes.
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