Next Generation Sequencing Analysis Reveals Segmental Patterns of microRNA Expression in Mouse Epididymal Epithelial Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 13;10(8):e0135605. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135605. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The functional maturation of mammalian spermatozoa is accomplished as the cells descend through the highly specialized microenvironment of the epididymis. This dynamic environment is, in turn, created by the combined secretory and absorptive activity of the surrounding epithelium and displays an extraordinary level of regionalization. Although the regulatory network responsible for spatial coordination of epididymal function remains unclear, recent evidence has highlighted a novel role for the RNA interference pathway. Indeed, as noncanonical regulators of gene expression, small noncoding RNAs have emerged as key elements of the circuitry involved in regulating epididymal function and hence sperm maturation. Herein we have employed next generation sequencing technology to profile the genome-wide miRNA signatures of mouse epididymal cells and characterize segmental patterns of expression. An impressive profile of some 370 miRNAs were detected in the mouse epididymis, with a subset of these specifically identified within the epithelial cells that line the tubule (218). A majority of the latter miRNAs (75%) were detected at equivalent levels along the entire length of the mouse epididymis. We did however identify a small cohort of miRNAs that displayed highly regionalized patterns of expression, including miR-204-5p and miR-196b-5p, which were down- and up-regulated by approximately 39- and 45-fold between the caput/caudal regions, respectively. In addition we identified 79 miRNAs (representing ~ 21% of all miRNAs) as displaying conserved expression within all regions of the mouse, rat and human epididymal tissue. These included 8/14 members of let-7 family of miRNAs that have been widely implicated in the control of androgen signaling and the repression of cell proliferation and oncogenic pathways. Overall these data provide novel insights into the sophistication of the miRNA network that regulates the function of the male reproductive tract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Epididymis / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Organ Specificity
  • Rats
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*

Substances

  • MIRN196 microRNA, mouse
  • MIRN204 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE70197

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/) Project Grant (APP1062371) awarded to BN, EAM and JEH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.