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Related Concept Videos

Infertility in Males01:23

Infertility in Males

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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...
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siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

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Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
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RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

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RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
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piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

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PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)02:30

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

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The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness02:19

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

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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....
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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Enhanced Crosslinking Immunoprecipitation eCLIP Method for Efficient Identification of Protein-bound RNA in Mouse Testis
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Small Non-coding RNAs and Male Infertility.

Ettore Caroppo1, Monica Muratori2

  • 1Asl Bari, PTA "F Jaia", Andrology Outpatients Clinic, Conversano (Ba), Italy. ecaroppo@teseo.it.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|April 26, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Male germ cells contain various small non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and piwi-interacting RNAs, crucial for sperm development and function. These RNAs are vital for fertility and may serve as diagnostic tools for male infertility.

Keywords:
Male infertilityNon-coding RNASpermSperm EpigenomeSpermatogenesis

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RiboTag Immunoprecipitation in the Germ Cells of the Male Mouse
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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Male germ cells possess a dynamic RNA payload that changes during spermatogenesis.
  • Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) like miRNAs, piRNAs, and tsRNAs are key components of this payload.
  • These sncRNAs play critical roles in regulating germ cell development, epigenetic reprogramming, and sperm function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse roles of small non-coding RNAs in male germ cells.
  • To highlight the involvement of sncRNAs in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and epigenetic inheritance.
  • To discuss the potential of sncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers for male infertility.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on small non-coding RNAs in male germ cells.
  • Analysis of the functions of different sncRNA classes (miRNA, piRNA, tsRNA) during spermatogenesis and epididymal transit.
  • Examination of the role of sncRNAs in epigenetic inheritance and their clinical relevance in male infertility.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNAs regulate spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and meiosis.
  • Piwi-interacting RNAs are essential for spermatogenesis at the pachytene stage and repress transposable elements.
  • Sperm acquire miRNAs and tsRNAs during epididymal transit, influencing fertilization and embryonic development.
  • sncRNAs are implicated in intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.

Conclusions:

  • Small non-coding RNAs are integral to male reproductive processes, from germ cell development to fertilization.
  • Dysregulation of sncRNAs is linked to male infertility, including azoospermia and unexplained infertility.
  • sncRNAs hold promise as biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in infertile men.