This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 137/6/901    most recent REP-08-0494v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by He, Z. Articles by Dym, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by He, Z. Articles by Dym, M.

Small RNA molecules in the regulation of spermatogenesis

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20057, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to M Dym; Email: dymm{at}georgetown.edu

Small RNA molecules (small RNAs), including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), have recently emerged as important regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional or translation level. Significant progress has recently been made utilizing small RNAs in elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the division and eventual differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells into mature spermatozoa. The process of spermatogenesis is composed of several phases: mitotic proliferation of spermatogonia to produce spermatocytes; two meiotic divisions of spermatocytes to generate haploid round spermatids; and spermiogenesis, the final phase that involves the maturation of early-round spermatids into elongated mature spermatids. A number of miRNAs are expressed abundantly in male germ cells throughout spermatogenesis, while piRNAs are only present in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. In this review, we first address the synthesis, mechanisms of action, and functions of siRNA, miRNA, and piRNA, and then we focus on the recent advancements in defining the small RNAs in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Concerns pertaining to the use of siRNAs in exploring spermatogenesis mechanisms and open questions in miRNAs and piRNAs in this field are highlighted. The potential applications of small RNAs to male contraception and treatment for male infertility and testicular cancer are also discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Delbes, B. F. Hales, and B. Robaire Toxicants and human sperm chromatin integrity Mol. Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2010; 16(1): 14 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]