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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Preparation of Small RNA Libraries for Sequencing from Early Mouse Embryos

Preparation of Small RNA Libraries for Sequencing from Early Mouse Embryos

Published on: October 9, 2020

The Sperm Small RNA Transcriptome: Implications beyond Reproductive Disorder.

Sze Yan Chan¹, Crystal Wing Tung Wan¹, Tin Yu Samuel Law¹

¹School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|December 23, 2022

Summary

Male sperm carry small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) that influence early embryo development. Environmental factors alter these sperm sncRNAs, impacting offspring health and fertility.

Keywords:

ICSI male fertility paternal epigenetic inheritance sperm epigenome

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Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion

Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion

Published on: August 25, 2018

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Epigenetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Spermatozoa transmit not only paternal DNA but also crucial epigenetic information.
Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) within sperm undergo dynamic changes during epididymal transit.
These sncRNA alterations can be influenced by environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the establishment of the sperm sncRNA transcriptome.
To explore the role of sncRNAs in male-factor infertility.
To examine the impact of paternal environmental exposures on offspring health via sperm sncRNAs.
To discuss the implications of sncRNAs in assisted reproductive technologies and epigenetic inheritance.

Main Methods:

Literature review of current research on sperm sncRNAs.
Analysis of studies investigating sncRNA changes during sperm maturation.
Examination of evidence linking paternal environmental insults to sperm sncRNA profiles.
Review of research on the effects of altered sperm sncRNAs on embryo development and offspring health.

Main Results:

Sperm sncRNA content is dynamic and influenced by the epididymal environment.
Environmental insults can significantly alter sperm sncRNA profiles.
Altered sperm sncRNAs are linked to impaired early embryo development.
Changes in sperm sncRNAs may predispose offspring to metabolic disorders.
Sperm sncRNAs play a role in male-factor infertility.

Conclusions:

Sperm sncRNAs are key mediators of paternal epigenetic information.
Environmental exposures impacting male fertility can be transmitted via sperm sncRNAs.
Understanding sperm sncRNAs is critical for addressing male infertility and improving assisted reproductive technologies.
Epigenetic inheritance through sperm sncRNAs has significant implications for offspring health.