Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran;2. Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran;3. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran;4. Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran;5. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia;6. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran;7. Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran |
Abstract: | miRNAs (MicroRNAs), known as noncoding and important endogenous factors regulating the expression protein-coding genes, are vital regulators in each biological process. Thus, this study aims to explore the key role of four microRNAs in regulating the spermatogenesis. To conduct this experiment, 55 infertile and fertile men provided the study with the sperm and testicular tissue samples. To study the spermatozoa in terms of the morphology, Diff-Quick was applied. Then, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted on samples. Our data indicated that in contrast to the miR-15b, significant increasing of miR-383 and miR-122 occurred in both severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (SOAT) and moderate oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (MOAT) compared to normal sperm group (N). In addition, it was observed that miR-15b and miR-122 increased in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) compared with obstructive azoospermia (OA) group. Expression levels of target genes including P53, CASPASE-9 and CYCLIN D1 underwent principle changes according to miRNAs expression level. Our finding indicated that miRNAs had essential role in the regulation of spermatogenesis, and their expression altering was associated with sperm abnormalities. Thus, microRNAs can be introduced as useful biomarkers to determine male infertility reasons to choose the effective treatment. |