Abstract
ABSTRACT
Sperm motility is a key parameter for male selection and is closely linked to male fertility status. miRNAs have been proposed as fertility biomarkers, and their regulatory effects on sperm motility have been previously investigated. In the present study, the miRNA cargo from three different sources, seminal extracellular vesicles, free transcripts in seminal plasma and spermatozoa, was analysed from semen samples with high motility and reduced motility. Three differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in seminal extracellular vesicles (miR‐6529‐5p, miR‐146a‐5p and miR‐15a‐5p), two in seminal plasma (miR‐532‐5p and miR‐98‐5p) and one in spermatozoa (miR‐1468‐5p). These miRNAs have been reported to play regulatory roles in other species that may be associated with sperm motility, and could therefore potentially serve as motility‐related biomarkers.