Novel roles of an intragenic G-quadruplex in controlling microRNA expression and cardiac function.

Simultaneous dysregulation of multiple microRNAs (miRs) affects various pathological pathways related to cardiac failure. In addition to being potential cardiac disease-specific markers, miR-23b/27b/24-1 were reported to be responsible for conferring cardiac pathophysiological processes. In this study, we identified a conserved guanine-rich RNA motif within the miR-23b/27b/24-1 cluster that can form an RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) in vitro and in cells. Disruption of this intragenic rG4 significantly increased the production of all three miRs. Conversely, a G4-binding ligand tetrandrine (TET) stabilized the rG4 and suppressed miRs production in human and rodent cardiomyocytes. Our further study showed that the rG4 prevented Drosha-DGCR8 binding and processing of the pri-miR, suppressing the biogenesis of all three miRs. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated G4 deletion in the rat genome aberrantly elevated all three miRs in the heart in vivo, leading to cardiac contractile dysfunction. Importantly, loss of the G4 resulted in reduced targets for the aforementioned miRs critical for normal heart function and defects in the L-type Ca2+ channel-ryanodine receptor (LCC-RyR) coupling in cardiomyocytes. Our results reveal a novel mechanism for G4-dependent regulation of miR biogenesis, which is essential for maintaining normal heart function.

Risks associated with cryopreserved semen in a human sperm bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the risks associated with cryopreserved semen collected during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in Wuhan, China? DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study involving young adult men who were qualified sperm donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank (China) during the pandemic wave (1 January 2020 to 30 January 2020) and after the wave and return to work (7 April 2020 to 30 May 30 2020). One hundred paired semen and blood specimens from 100 donors were included. One-step single-tube nested quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (OSN-qRT-PCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, to control the unacceptable risk of false-negative results, a second round of screening was performed with pooled RNA from negative semen samples using crystal digital PCR (cd-PCR). RESULTS: For individual blood and semen samples, the target genes, namely the nucleocapsid protein (N) and open reading frame (ORF-1ab) genes, tested negative in all of the 100 paired samples. Further, as per cd-PCR results, there were >20,000 droplets per well in the RNA for each combined sample and no positive droplets were present for either of the aforementioned target genes. A total of 100 paired semen and blood samples from these two groups tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreserved semen at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic wave was free of SARS-CoV-2 and was judged safe for external use in the future.

Intra-Cytosplamic sperm injection outcomes with fresh and cryopreserved human epidydimal sperm from patients with obstructive azoospermia.

Techniques for the cryopreservation of epididymal sperm was are widely used in clinical practice. However, given the unique characteristics of sperm from patients with obstructive azoospermia, epididymal sperm cryopreservation is more difficult because of low count and weak motility; therefore, conventional methods of sperm cryopreservation may not result in the best outcomes. We used the micro-straw method to store small quantities of sperm obtained from patients with severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia and achieved successful deliveries in the previous study. This retrospective study of ICSI cycles included the first ICSI cycles of fresh or frozen/thawed epididymal sperm that were performed in patients suffering from obstructive azoospermia who were admitted to the CITIC-Xiangya Hospital of Reproduction and Genetics of China from June 1, 2015 to June 31, 2019. A total of 2441 patients with obstructive azoospermia were divided according to the use of fresh (n = 2342) or frozen/thawed (n = 99) epididymal sperm. The results showed that the fertilisation rate was higher with fresh epididymal sperm than that with frozen/thawed epididymal sperm (85.14% vs. 79.26%, respectively; p = 0.000). However, the rates of embryo cleavage, high-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, singletons and birth defect were similar between fresh and frozen/thawed epididymal sperm (98.28% vs. 99.13%, 60.34% vs. 57.29%, 67.90% vs. 70.51%, 8.12% vs. 10.91%, 57.76% vs. 49.09%, 1.59% vs. 1.45%respectively; p = 0.088, 0.109, 0.628, 0.462,0.203 and 0.686). In addition, the short-term cryostorage of small quantities of epididymal sperm did not affect clinical outcomes. The results indicated that in cases of obstructive azoospermia, cryostorage of small quantities epididymal sperm is a reliable option.

Sperm donor lifestyle survey: modifiable risk factors for potential sperm donors.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between modifiable lifestyle factors and the main semen parameter values, the number of qualified sperm donors, and to provide some sensible guidance for sperm donors. METHODS: Healthy men screened as potential sperm donors were recruited in the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank of China from March 2019 to December 2019. Participants were invited to complete interviewer-assisted questionnaires on eleven items of information. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze which lifestyle factors collected by the questionnaire had an impact on the eligibility and main semen parameters of sperm donors. RESULTS: The eligibility of men as sperm donors was strongly influenced by the duration of abstinence (P = 0.002). The rate of eligibility sperm donors increased significantly with the number of days of abstinence. In addition, semen volume increased with abstinence time (P = 0.000). Exercise frequency (P = 0.025) and abstinence time (P = 0.000) were positively correlated with sperm concentration, and masturbation frequency was negatively correlated with sperm concentration (P = 0.013). Progressive sperm motility was significantly affected by abstinence time (P = 0.000) and bedtime (P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Abstinence time was highly associated with semen parameters and donor qualification. Increase the abstinence time before donation may be meaningful in improving the proportion of eligible sperm donors.

Long-term storage modifies the microRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen.

The global practice of cryopreservation of human semen is commonplace in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) labs and sperm banks. However, information on the effects of long-term cryopreservation on semen is limited to clinical data summaries and descriptions. For this study, we prepared 4 semen specimens of fresh semen, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 1 year, 3 specimens cryostored for at least 5 years, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 10 years, and 3 specimens cryostored for at least 15 years. Total RNA was extracted from each sample, amplified, labeled, and mapped to the known primary microRNA (miRNA) in the miRBase database, enabling the prediction of novel miRNAs. We found that cryopreservation can lead to changes in miRNA expression, and with the increase in storage time, these changes became more pronounced. Meanwhile, the expression of let-7d-3p, let-7c-5p and let-7i-3p miRNAs changed dynamically over cryostorage time in frozen-thawed human sperm. Furthermore, we analyzed the time-dependent dynamics of cryostorage-expressed miRNAs and their target mRNAs and found that half of the target genes were expressed in oocytes. These intersection genes were mainly enriched in cancer and cytoskeletal signaling pathways. Our findings showed that the miRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen is modified by long-term storage. Furthermore, as the storage time increases, the impact on human sperm becomes more pronounced in terms of miRNAs, which may have an effect on subsequent fertilization and embryonic development.

Global status of research on fertility preservation in male patients with cancer: A bibliometric and visual analysis.

Background: Recently, male fertility preservation before cancer treatment has become more prevalent. The research in this field has progressed over time, with some studies having a major impact and providing guidance for further research. However, the trends and hotspots of research on fertility preservation in male cancer patients may have changed; exploring them is essential for relevant research progress. Design: We extracted relevant studies from the Web of Science Core Collection database, capturing information on the countries of study, affiliations, authors, keywords, as well as co-citations of references and journals. To identify publication trends, research strengths, key subjects, prominent topics, and emerging areas, we conducted a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace. Results: We included 3201 articles on fertility preservation in male cancer patients published over January 1999 to December 2023 were included. Although the relevant research growth rate was slow initially, the number of publications increased annually. Of all study countries, the United States, Germany, and Japan reported the earliest studies; the United States published the highest number of relevant studies. The US institutions remained at the forefront for all 25 years, and the US researcher Ashok Agarwal published the most articles. Literature co-citation analyses indicated a transformation in the study participants; they comprised a younger demographic (i.e., a large number of adolescent male patients underwent fertility preservation); moreover, fertility preservation techniques evolved from sperm cryopreservation to testicular tissue cryopreservation. Research on reproductive outcomes of sperm cryopreservation was the recent hotspot in male fertility preservation research, and the impact of immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors on male fertility requires further research. Conclusions: Male fertility preservation will be a major future research focus, with closer connections and collaborations between countries and organizations. Our results present the historical data on the development of research on male fertility preservation in cancer patients, providing relevant insights for future research and development in this study area.

Exploring the impact of pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 on fertility in sperm donors.

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 (inv[9]) is a common chromosomal structural variant, but its impact on clinical outcomes remains debated. The screening criteria of sperm banks are rarely mentioned to individuals with inv(9). In this study, we evaluated the fertility of sperm donors with inv(9) who met eligibility criteria for sperm banks (inv[9]-eligible donors). From March 2004 to May 2022, chromosomal analysis of 16 124 sperm donors at CITIC-Xiangya Human Sperm Bank in Hunan Province (Changsha, China) found that 251 (1.6%) had chromosome variations, with inv(9) being the most prevalent at 1.1%. All 169 inv(9)-eligible donors were contacted to collect fertility outcome data, along with 206 eligible donors without inv(9) as controls. In addition, semen samples from inv(9)-eligible donors and eligible donors underwent assessments of sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA fragmentation index, acrosome integrity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and sperm morphology. Results showed that inv(9) did not significantly increase reproductive risks overall. Despite detecting ROS level differences, the clinical impact may be insignificant. This study provides new data on the inv(9) population that can serve as a valuable reference for decision-making by sperm banks as well as for genetic counseling and clinical guidance for individuals carrying inv(9) variant.

Genetic testing of sperm donors in China: a survey of current practices.

Background: The National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (NHFPCC) issued the "Measures for the Management of Human Sperm Banks," which was revised in 2003 and is still in effect today. One of the standard guidelines is that potential donors undergo laboratory testing to exclude infectious and genetic diseases and karyotype analysis. However, patient demands for donor genetic testing have also increased, and only karyotype analysis to exclude genetic diseases is not sufficient to meet these demands. Objective: To examine donor genetic screening practices at sperm banks in China and to evaluate the qualifications and skills of genetic counselors at the banks. Materials and methods: An electronic survey was distributed to twenty-seven sperm banks to examine donor genetic screening practices at sperm banks in China and to evaluate the qualifications and skills of genetic counselors at the banks. Twenty-six human sperm banks responded to a 32-question survey about their current practices related to genetic testing of sperm donors. Results: The 26 sperm banks reported that all qualified sperm donors undergo karyotype analysis; 22 banks (84.6%) collected three generations of family history from each qualified sperm donor; 10 (38.5%) reported that they attempted to accommodate special requests from donor semen recipients for particular genetic tests. Only 2 of the 26 (7.7%) sperm banks reported that they performed whole-exome sequencing. At all the sperm banks, consent for genetic testing was obtained as part of the overall contract for sperm donors. Nineteen (73.1%) sperm banks had genetic counselors on their staff, while six (23.1%) had no genetic counselors on their staff but had access to genetic counselors at the hospital. Only one (3.8%) sperm bank had no genetic counselors on their staff or at the hospital. Conclusions: The need for larger scale genetic testing of donors and recipients and an extensive panel of genetic tests specific to the Chinese population. Additionally, professionally trained geneticists must be employed as genetic counsellors so that the results of genetic tests and their implications can be explained to donors.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes, Risks, and Costs for 20,910 Donor In Vitro Fertilization and 16,850 Donor Artificial Insemination Treatment Cycles: A Retrospective Analysis in China.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of donor in vitro fertilization (IVF-D) and donor artificial insemination (AI-D) in clinical outcomes, risks, and costs. METHODS: This study analyzed the cycle changes and clinical outcomes in 20,910 IVF-D and 16,850 AI-D cycles between 2013 and 2021 in the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to evaluate the costs per couple and per live birth cycle in the two treatment groups. RESULTS: IVF-D had higher pregnancy and live birth rates than AI-D (p < 0.001). The cumulative pregnancy and live birth rates for three AI-D cycles were 41.01% and 32.42%, respectively, higher than the rates for one or two AI-D cycles. The multiple birth and birth defect rate of AI-D was lower than that of IVF-D significantly. IVF-D mean cost per couple was higher than that of AI-D (CNY32,575 vs. CNY11,062, p < 0.001), with a mean cost difference of CNY21,513 (95% confidence interval, CNY20,517-22,508). The mean costs per live birth cycle for IVF-D and AI-D were CNY49,411 and CNY31,246, respectively. CONCLUSION: AI-D is more cost-effective and poses a lower risk for infertility couples than IVF-D, and patients should undergo three AI-D cycles to obtain the highest success rate.

SPOC domain-containing protein 1 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human spermatogonial stem cells through adenylate kinase 4.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the origin of male spermatogenesis, which can reconstruct germ cell lineage in mice. However, the application of SSCs for male fertility restoration is hindered due to the unclear mechanisms of proliferation and self-renewal in humans. AIM: To investigate the role and mechanism of SPOC domain-containing protein 1 (SPOCD1) in human SSC proliferation. METHODS: We analyzed publicly available human testis single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data and found that SPOCD1 is predominantly expressed in SSCs in the early developmental stages. Small interfering RNA was applied to suppress SPOCD1 expression to detect the impacts of SPOCD1 inhibition on SSC proliferation and apoptosis. Subsequently, we explored the target genes of SPOCD1 using RNA-seq and confirmed their role by restoring the expression of the target genes. In addition, we examined SPOCD1 expression in some non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients to explore the correlation between SPOCD1 and NOA. RESULTS: The uniform manifold approximation and projection clustering and pseudotime analysis showed that SPOCD1 was highly expressed in the early stages of SSC, and immunohistological results showed that SPOCD1 was mainly localized in glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 positive SSCs. SPOCD1 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. RNA-seq results showed that SPOCD1 knockdown significantly downregulated genes such as adenylate kinase 4 (AK4). Overexpression of AK4 in SPOCD1 knockdown cells partially reversed the phenotypic changes, indicating that AK4 is a functional target gene of SPOCD1. In addition, we found a significant downregulation of SPOCD1 expression in some NOA patients, suggesting that the downregulation of SPOCD1 may be relevant for NOA. CONCLUSION: Our study broadens the understanding of human SSC fate determination and may offer new theories on the etiology of male infertility.

Update on techniques for cryopreservation of human spermatozoa.

In the 1960s, sperm cryopreservation was developed as a method to preserve fertility. Currently, techniques for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa have been widely used in assisted reproduction. However, although sperm cryobiology has made notable achievements, the optimal method for the recovery of viable spermatozoa after cryopreservation remains elusive. Postthawing sperm quality can be affected by cryoprotectants, ice formation, storage conditions, and osmotic stress during the freezing process. This review discusses recent advances in different cryopreservation techniques, cryoprotectants, and freezing and thawing methods during cryopreservation and new indications for the use of cryopreserved spermatozoa.

Short-term effects of air pollution on respiratory diseases among young children in Wuhan city, China.

BACKGROUND: The high risks for childhood respiratory diseases are associated with exposure to ambient air pollution. However, there are few studies that have explored the association between air pollution exposure and respiratory diseases among young children (particularly aged 0-2 years) based on the entire population in a megalopolis. METHODS: Daily hospital admission records were obtained from 54 municipal hospitals in Wuhan city, China. We included all children (aged 0-2 years) hospitalized with respiratory diseases between January 2017 and December 2018. Individual air pollution exposure assessment was used in Land Use Regression model and inverse distance weighted. Case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression models were adopted to estimate the hospitalization risk associated with air pollutants. RESULTS: We identified 62,425 hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases, of which 36,295 were pneumonia. Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were significantly associated with respiratory diseases and pneumonia. ORs of pneumonia were 1.0179 (95% CI 1.0097-1.0260) for PM2.5 and 1.0131 (95% CI 1.0042-1.0220) for NO2 at lag 0-7 days. Subgroup analysis suggested that NO2, Ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) only showed effects on pneumonia hospitalizations on male patients, but PM2.5 had effects on patients of both genders. Except O3, all pollutants were strongly associated with pneumonia in cold season. In addition, children who aged elder months and who were in central urban areas had a higher hospitalization risk. CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution is associated with higher hospitalization risk for respiratory diseases, especially pneumonia, among young children, and the risk is related to gender, month age, season and residential location.

Genetic testing of sperm donors at a human sperm bank in China.

Background: In China, numerous human sperm banks only perform three-generation family history evaluation to exclude genetic diseases with clinical symptoms; therefore, many inherited risks cannot be detected before donor qualification even when a thorough genetic family history evaluation has been performed. Hence, the risk of recessive disease inheritance persists with the current eligibility guidelines in China regarding the donor selection process. Methods: Retrospective study that reviewed the genetic test analyses and clinical outcomes of young adult men who were qualified sperm donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank of China from January 1, 2018, to May 1, 2021. We included a total of 3231 qualified sperm donors: all donors underwent primary screening for thalassemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Whereafter, 278 of donors underwent genetic testing for specific genes, and 43 donors underwent whole exome sequencing. Results: 2.4% of 3231 qualified sperm donors might have thalassemia and 1.4% might have G6PD deficiency. Sperm donors with thalassemia and G6PD deficiency would be eliminated. Specific gene testing identified 7 of the 278 donors (2.5%) as carriers of at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in a gene, including 1.9% of 154 donors (3/154) as carrier variants in α-Like or ß-Like globin genes, 17.6% of 17 donors (3/17) as carrier variants in GJB2, 12.5% of 8 donors (1/8) as carrier variants in SMN1. In addition, among the 43 sperm donors carrying the 111 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, eight (18.6%) were carriers of pathogenic variants of the GJB2 gene. The frequency, therefore, was approximately 1 in 5. Conclusions: The data suggest that used blood routine and RDT can make a preliminary screening of sperm donors, and special gene testing should be performed for sperm donors according to the regional incidence of specific genetic diseases. Meanwhile, whole exome sequencing can be used as a supplementary application in sperm donor genetic testing, and aid a successful and healthy pregnancy. However, industry guidelines must be modified to incorporate its use.

Micro-straw: An efficient cryopreservation carrier for rare human spermatozoa.

BACKGROUND: Many cryopreservation carriers have been introduced to freeze rare human spermatozoa, however, these carriers relative attributes and comparative effectivenesses have not yet been systematically studied. OBJECTIVES: Is the micro-straw cryopreservation carrier more effective for cryopreserving rare human spermatozoa compared with the Cryoplus and a new micro-straw (LSL straw) carriers? MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involves 93 samples from healthy sperm donors and 40 samples from patients diagnosed with oligospermia, asthenospermia, oligoasthenospermia, or obstructive azoospermia. We determined the optimal freeze-thaw protocol for the Micro-straw carrier. The post-thaw survival rate, normal sperm morphology, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation for Micro-straw, Cryoplus, and LSL carriers were then determined. Finally, we verified the effects of freezing using these carriers by comparing the qualities of post-thaw spermatozoa from patients. RESULTS: The highest total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PR) survival rates were obtained by placing the Micro-straw at 1 cm above the LN2 surface for 70 s during freezing and in a 42°C water bath for 40 s during thawing. No differences were observed in the PR survival rate, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation of the post-thaw spermatozoa from the three carriers. However, the normal morphology rate of spermatozoa frozen using the Micro-straw carrier was higher than for the Cryoplus carrier (p < 0.05), and the TM survival rate of spermatozoa frozen with the Micro-straw was higher than that for the LSL carrier (p < 0.01). In verification tests, there were no significant differences in the quality of post-thaw spermatozoa cryopreserved using these carriers for both rare spermatozoa or epididymal sperm. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Micro-straw, Cryoplus, and LSL carriers are all efficient means of freezing rare human spermatozoa. However, the Micro-straw carrier is more economical, safe, and user-friendly.

MKK7-mediated phosphorylation of JNKs regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human spermatogonial stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the basis of spermatogenesis. However, little is known about the developmental regulatory mechanisms of SSC due to sample origin and species differences. AIM: To investigates the mechanisms involved in the proliferation of human SSC. METHODS: The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) in human testis was identified using immunohistochemistry and western blotting (WB). MKK7 was knocked down using small interfering RNA, and cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by WB, EdU, cell counting kit-8 and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. After bioinformatic analysis, the interaction of MKK7 with c-Jun N-terminal kinases ( JNKs ) was verified by protein co-immunoprecipitation and WB. The phosphorylation of JNKs was inhibited by SP600125, and the phenotypic changes were detected by WB, cell counting kit-8 and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. RESULTS: MKK7 is mainly expressed in human SSCs, and MKK7 knockdown inhibits SSC proliferation and promotes their apoptosis. MKK7 mediated the phosphorylation of JNKs, and after inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNKs, the phenotypic changes of the cells were similar to those after MKK7 downregulation. The expression of MKK7 was significantly downregulated in patients with abnormal spermatogenesis, suggesting that abnormal MKK7 may be associated with spermatogenesis impairment. CONCLUSION: MKK7 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human SSC by mediating the phosphorylation of JNKs.

Improving native human sperm freezing protection by using a modified vitrification method.

Slow freezing is the most commonly used technique for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa in clinical practice. However, it has been shown to have a negative impact on sperm function and structure. Vitrification as a successful alternative method has been proved to have better protective effects on human embryos, but vitrification of spermatozoa is still subject to low recovery rates. In this study, a modified vitrification method for native spermatozoa was developed. A total of 28 semen samples were included; each sample was divided into three equal parts and assigned to fresh, slow freezing, and vitrification groups. Sperm vitality, motility, morphology, DNA integrity, and acrosome reaction were assessed for each of the groups. The results showed that vitrification achieves better results for several sperm protection parameters than slow freezing; vitrification achieves a higher recovery rate (P < 0.05), motility (P <0.05), morphology (P <0.05), and curve line velocity (P <0.05) than slow freezing. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation was decreased (P <0.05) and better acrosome protection (P <0.05) was exhibited in the spermatozoa after vitrification. Principal component analysis of all sperm parameters revealed that the vitrification cluster was closer to the fresh cluster, indicating that spermatozoa are better preserved through vitrification. In conclusion, while both slow freezing and vitrification have negative effects on sperm function and structure, the vitrification protocol described here had a relatively better recovery rate (65.8%) and showed improved preservation of several sperm quality parameters compared with slow freezing.

Novel micro-straw for freezing small quantities of human spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel micro-straw as an efficient, simple method for freezing a small number of human spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Sperm bank. PATIENT(S): Men with severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia undergoing a total of 143 ICSI cycles at the CITIC-Xiangya Hospital of Reproduction and Genetics from June 1, 2015, to June 31, 2019, and 20 donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank from 2001 to 2016. INTERVENTION(S): Analysis of sperm samples and clinical outcomes after sperm use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical information, including number of motile sperm before and after freezing, freeze-thaw survival rates, two-pronuclear fertilization rates, clinical pregnancy, and early pregnancy loss rates after sperm use. RESULT(S): In the feasibility experiment using the micro-straw, we found a freeze-thaw survival rate of 73% ± 8.3% and no difference in normal sperm morphology, normal acrosome integrity, or DNA fragmentation index between the micro-straw and 1.8-mL cryotubes. The prospective cohort included 1,325 cases, and we collected sperm from testicular, epididymis, and ejaculation sources. We observed motile sperm in 1,294 (97.6%) of 1,325 frozen-thawed samples. Postthaw sperm were available for ICSI in 140 (97.9%) of 143 of cycles. The fertilization, cleavage, and high-quality embryo rates were 1,007 (81.7%) of 1,233; 995 (98.8%) of 1,007; and 537 (53.9%) of 995, respectively. Sixty-nine (49%) clinical pregnancies were achieved, and the miscarriage rate was 6 (8.6%) of 69. CONCLUSION(S): The micro-straw is suitable and clinically useful for the cryopreservation of small numbers of spermatozoa.

Abnormal expression of miR-331 leads to impaired heart function.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in maintaining normal heart function. Abnormal expression of miR-331 has been observed in the hearts of patients with atrial fibrillation and Marfan syndrome. However, whether miR-331 regulates cardiac function under physiological and pathological conditions still remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the function and underlying mechanisms of miR-331 in a pressure overload-induced heart failure model and miR-331 transgenic rat model. First, we found that the expression of miR-331-3p exhibited a 1.7-fold increase in hypertrophy compared with that in the sham group (P < 0.01), yet the expression of miR-331-5p remained unchanged. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-331 in cardiomyocytes and defective excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling efficiency were observed. Luciferase assays showed that miR-331-3p suppressed JPH2 expression by binding to the coding region of JPH2 mRNA. Finally, in the miR-331 transgenic rat model, JPH2 expression was suppressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in vivo, which resulted in impairment of both the E-C coupling efficiency of cardiomyocytes and systolic function of the heart. This finding mechanistically linked miR-331 to JPH2 downregulation and suggested an important role for the abnormal expression of miR-331 leading to the dysfunction of E-C coupling in heart failure.