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Uterosomes: The lost ring of telegony?
Hamid Reza Nejabati1, Leila Roshangar1, Mohammad Nouri2
1Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|July 17, 2022
Summary
Telegony, where prior male traits appear in offspring, may occur when sperm enter uterine somatic cells. These cells store genetic information, influencing subsequent fertilization via uterine fluid vesicles (uterosomes).
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Telegony describes the inheritance of traits from a previous male partner in offspring sired by a subsequent male.
- Existing theories suggest sperm infiltration into female somatic tissues or fetal gene presence in maternal blood.
- Sperm penetration into the uterine mucosa may alter genetic structure, impacting future embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel mechanism explaining telegony.
- To elucidate the role of sperm-nuclear basic proteins and non-coding RNAs in telegony.
- To highlight the significance of uterine fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (uterosomes) in reproductive phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on telegony, sperm-tissue interactions, and uterine biology.
- Conceptualization of a new hypothesis for telegony based on cellular and molecular mechanisms.
- Integration of evidence regarding sperm entry into uterine mucosa and uterosome composition.
Main Results:
- Sperm not involved in fertilization may infiltrate uterine somatic cells, storing genetic/epigenetic information.
- Uterine fluid contains extracellular vesicles (uterosomes) carrying proteins and non-coding RNAs.
- Incoming sperm may interact with uterosomes, acquiring necessary molecules for fertilization and development.
Conclusions:
- This hypothesis offers a potential molecular explanation for telegony.
- Sperm-derived genetic material and uterosome-mediated information exchange are key proposed elements.
- Further research is needed to validate the proposed mechanism of telegony.
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