Sperm RNA Dynamics in Male Fertility

Spermatozoa carry a diverse and dynamic population of RNA molecules that extend beyond the genetic payload of DNA. These include messenger RNAs, small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs, Piwi-interacting RNAs and long non-coding RNAs, all of which can influence spermatogenesis, sperm function, fertilisation and early embryonic development. Analyses of sperm RNA and protein content reveal stage-dependent maturation patterns, environmental and dietary impacts, and epigenetic interactions that shape embryonic gene expression programmes. Comparative studies across livestock, wildlife and human systems have demonstrated correlations between specific RNA profiles and fertility outcomes, offering routes to biomarker discovery, assisted reproduction optimisation and conservation strategies. High-throughput sequencing and proteomic technologies have been pivotal in charting these RNA landscapes and uncovering regulatory networks essential for male reproductive competence.

Research from Nature Portfolio

In an endangered carnivore species, semen proteomic and transcriptomic profiling distinguished wild and ex situ populations. Over 1,700 proteins were identified, with wild animals showing unique ribosomal clusters and transcript enrichment in ribosomal RNA processing and ion transport. Variation in diet modulated gene networks linked to translation initiation, focal adhesion and mitochondrial function, with the transcriptome most strongly associated with successful fertility outcomes. These insights provide a molecular basis for declining reproductive success in managed populations and inform conservation breeding programmes.

In dairy cattle, strand-specific RNA sequencing of semen from full-sibling bulls with high and low sperm motility uncovered a coordinated mRNA and long non-coding RNA landscape. Among more than 20,000 protein-coding genes and 11,500 lncRNAs, 19 mRNAs and 2,517 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between motility groups. A key lncRNA targeting EFNA1, a gene involved in reproductive physiology, highlights regulatory interactions that underpin sperm motility. This global transcriptomic atlas advances understanding of molecular determinants of bull fertility and suggests novel targets for genetic and management interventions.

Sperm RNA Dynamics in Male Fertility publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sperm rna dynamics in male fertility across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Transcriptome: The complete set of RNA transcripts present in a cell or population of cells at a specific time.

References

1. Semen proteome and transcriptome of the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) show association with the environment and fertility outcome. Scientific Reports (2024).
2. Integrated analysis of mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in the semen from Holstein bulls with high and low sperm motility. Scientific Reports (2019).
3. Expression of miR-138 in cryopreserved bovine sperm is related to their fertility potential. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology (2023).
4. Stability, delivery and functions of human sperm RNAs at fertilization. Nucleic Acids Research (2013).