Analysing the Sperm Epigenome: Roles in Early Embryogenesis and Assisted Reproduction

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Urol

Specialty Urology

Date 2012 Oct 10

PMID 23045264

Citations 33

Authors

Undraga Schagdarsurengin

Agnieszka Paradowska

Klaus Steger

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

An understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in sperm production and their impact on the differentiating embryo is essential if we are to optimize fertilization and assisted reproduction techniques in the future. Male germ cells are unique in terms of size, robustness, and chromatin structure, which is highly condensed owing to the replacement of most histones by protamines. Analysis of sperm epigenetics requires specific techniques that enable the isolation of high quality chromatin and associated nucleic acids. Histone modification, DNA methylation and noncoding RNAs have important, but so far underestimated, roles in the production of fertile sperm. Aberrations in these epigenetic processes have detrimental consequences for both early embryo development and assisted reproductive technology. Emerging computational techniques are likely to improve our understanding of chromatin dynamics in the future.

Citing Articles

Evaluation of and gene expression in male infertility patients with low or high sperm DNA fragmentation.

Sahin Y, Aslan E, Aktuna S, Baltaci V J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2025; 26(1):7-14.

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Protamine 2 deficiency results in Septin 12 abnormalities.

Sanovec O, Frolikova M, Kraus V, Vondrakova J, Qasemi M, Spevakova D Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024; 12:1447630.

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Sperm histone modifications may predict success in human assisted reproduction: a pilot study.

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Exploring Differentially Expressed Sperm miRNAs in Idiopathic Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Their Association with Early Embryonic Development.

Thapliyal A, Tomar A, Naglot S, Dhiman S, Datta S, Sharma J Noncoding RNA. 2024; 10(4).

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High paternal homocysteine causes ventricular septal defects in mouse offspring.

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