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Seminal 5'tRF-Glu-CTC as a Biomarker for Oligozoospermia and ART Outcome Prediction
Neslihan Hekim1,2, Sezgin Gunes3,4, Bulent Ayas5
1Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Basic and Clinical Andrology
|September 1, 2025
Summary
Elevated 5'tRF-Glu-CTC in seminal plasma may indicate male infertility. This tRNA fragment could be a biomarker for oligozoospermia, impacting sperm production and function.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular diagnostics
Background:
- Epigenetic factors, including tRNA-derived fragments, are implicated in male infertility.
- These fragments modulate cellular stress and gene expression, affecting sperm production and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of 5'tRF-Glu-CTC in male infertility.
- To compare 5'tRF-Glu-CTC expression in seminal plasma between oligozoospermic and normozoospermic men undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
Main Methods:
- Seminal plasma total RNA extraction.
- Quantification of 5'tRF-Glu-CTC expression using qRT-PCR.
- Assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) via TUNEL assay.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher 5'tRF-Glu-CTC expression was observed in oligozoospermic men compared to normozoospermic men (P=0.024).
- Sperm DFI negatively correlated with sperm motility and count, but no significant DFI difference was found between groups.
- Lower 5'tRF-Glu-CTC and DFI were noted in male partners of couples achieving pregnancy, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- 5'tRF-Glu-CTC may serve as a potential biomarker for oligozoospermia.
- This fragment could be involved in the pathophysiology of reduced sperm count.
