Project description:Total RNAs were extracted from the purified cauda epididymal spermatozoa of mouse (C57BL/6, 2 months old) and rats (Sprague Dawley, 450g young adult), and the 18 - 45 nt fraction small RNAs were subjected to library construction and deep sequencing, using Illumina GAIIx.
Project description:Total RNAs were extracted from the purified caput epididymal spermatozoa of mouse (C57BL/6, 2 months old) and rats (Sprague Dawley, 450g young adult), and the 18 - 45 nt fraction small RNAs were subjected to library construction and deep sequencing, using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
Project description:Total RNAs were extracted from the Testis and Epididymal Caput, Corpus and Cauda tissues of 2-month and 13-month-old WT and Gpx5 KO mice (C57BL/6). The 18 - 40 nt fraction small RNAs and transcriptomes were subjected to library construction and deep sequencing, using Illumina GAIIx or Hiseq 2000.
Project description:Purpose: The goal of this study is to detect differentially expressed genes, among Wild type caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis by RNA sequencing Methods: Caput, corpus, and cauda epidiymal mRNA profiles of 9-month-old wild-type mice were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina GAIIx. Results: RNA-seq data identified transcripts differentially expressed in caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. Conclusions: Our results show that the expression of many genes were differentially regulated in caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis.
Project description:Cryopreservation induces differential remodeling of the proteome in mammalian spermatozoa. How these proteome changes relate with the loss of sperm function during cryopreservation remains unsolved. The present study attempted to clarify this issue evaluating differential changes in the proteome of pig spermatozoa retrieved from the cauda epididymis and the ejaculate, with clear differences in cryotolerance, comparing fresh and frozen-thawed cells. Sperm samples were collected from 10 healthy, sexually mature and fertile boars, and cryopreserved using a standard 0.5 mL straw protocol. Total and progressive motility, viability and mitochondria membrane potential were higher and membrane fluidity and reactive oxygen species generation lower in frozen-thawed (FT) cauda epididymal than ejaculated spermatozoa. Quantitative proteomics of fresh and FT sperm samples were analyzed using a LC-ESI-MS/MS-based SWATH approach. Cryopreservation quantitatively altered more proteins in ejaculated than cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Differential protein-protein networks highlighted a set of proteins directly involved in mitochondrial functionality among those quantitatively altered in ejaculated spermatozoa, which would explain the worse post-thaw quality of ejaculated pig spermatozoa.
Project description:Normal epididymis development is the basis of male reproduction, and epididymis is a crucial site where sperm maturation occurs. Although epididymis has been studied through multiple omics methods, combined omics has not been used to present the differential genes in the epididymal cauda of yaks before and after sexual maturity. We here provided the landscape maps of differential genes and proteins obtained through RNA-seq and proteomics technology, and searched for potential key genes, including TGFBI, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL12A1, SULT2B1, KRT19, and NPC2, through integration analysis. In separate and combined enrichment analyses, genes mainly related to cell growth, differentiation and adhesion, sperm maturation, and immune defense were differentially expressed. The involved pathways included extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction, protein differentiation and absorption, lysosomes, and estrogen signaling pathway. When the sequencing results were verified through qRT-PCR and 4D-PRM, they were found to be consistent. In addition, after the key genes were identified, abnormal expression of these genes was found to possibly cause the retardation of cauda epididymis development and abnormal sperm function in yaks. In conclusion, we provide useful clues for the development of epididymal cauda of yak, sperm maturation, and screening of key genes involved in reproductive regulation of male yak through separate and combined analyses.
Project description:It has been demonstrated that males exposed to adversity prior to conception sire offspring exhibiting abnormal behaviour and neuroendocrine function. Epigenetic factors such as microRNA (miRNA) within sperm may be responsible for driving these effects. Synthetic glucocorticoids (sGC) are a class of drug that are commonly prescribed and may have implications for intergenerational transmission. Therefore, we hypothesized that caput and cauda sperm miRNA profiles will be altered following sGC exposure in guinea pigs. We used miRNA microarray to evaluate the miRNA levels of caput and cauda sperm isolated from guinea pigs exposed to control and water treated with sGC. We identified a subset of miRNAs with low levels in cauda sperm of guinea pigs exposed to sGC.
Project description:Sperm small RNAs have emerged as important non-genetic contributors to embryogenesis and offspring health. A subset of sperm small RNAs are thought to be acquired during epididymal transit. However, the transfer of RNAs from the somatic epididymis to the sperm has been questioned, and the identity of the specific small RNAs transferred remains unclear. Here, we employ Cre/Lox genetics to generate germline- and epididymal-specific Dgcr8 conditional knockout mice to investigate the dynamics of sperm microRNAs and their function in the early embryo. Interestingly, sperm from germline specific Dgcr8 knockout males restored the levels of 58 of the 98 (59%) miRNAs that were lost in testicular sperm during epididymal transit. Conversely, sperm from epididymal Dgcr8 knockouts displayed a 5-fold reduction in 25 miRNAs. This substantial loss of epididymal miRNAs in sperm was accompanied by transcriptomic changes in the embryo which was rescued by microinjection of epididymal miRNAs. These findings ultimately demonstrate the acquisition of miRNAs by sperm during epididymal transit and their regulation of post-fertilization embryonic gene expression.