biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)Tan MGene knockdown techniques are widely used to examine the function of specific genes or proteins. While a variety of techniques are available, a technique commonly used on mammalian oocytes is mRNA knockdown by microinjection of small interfering RNA (siRNA), with non-specific siRNA injection used as a technical control. Here, we investigate whether and how the microinjection procedure itself affects the transcriptome of bovine oocytes. Injection of non-specific siRNA resulted in differential expression of 119 transcripts, of which 76 were down-regulated. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the differentially regulated genes were enriched in the biological processes of ATP synthesis, molecular transport and regulation of protein polyubiquitination. This study establishes a background effecScientific reports11211https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7343835biostudies-literatureMicroinjection induces changes in the transcriptome of bovine oocytes.PMC7343835Stout TAETan MRoelen BAJvan Tol HTAMokry MfalseMicroinjection induces changes in the transcriptome of bovine oocytes.Gene knockdown techniques are widely used to examine the function of specific genes or proteins. While a variety of techniques are available, a technique commonly used on mammalian oocytes is mRNA knockdown by microinjection of small interfering RNA (siRNA), with non-specific siRNA injection used as a technical control. Here, we investigate whether and how the microinjection procedure itself affects the transcriptome of bovine oocytes. Injection of non-specific siRNA resulted in differential expression of 119 transcripts, of which 76 were down-regulated. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the differentially regulated genes were enriched in the biological processes of ATP synthesis, molecular transport and regulation of protein polyubiquitination. This study establishes a background effec2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Jul2026-04-29T08:44:39.451Z2025-04-07T09:04:20.766ZS-EPMC73438353264175110.1038/s41598-020-67603-4