Table 1.
Discoveries related to microRNAs (miRNAs) in the male reproductive system
| Discoveries | Method of analysis | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defining expression profiling of miRNA in human testis | miRNA specific oligonucleotide microarrays | 2004 | 21 |
| Report of Mirn122a as a down-regulator of germ cell transition protein 2 (Tnp2) messenger RNA | Real-time, RT-PCR and ribonuclease protection assays | 2005 | 23 |
| Defining of chromatoid bodies as intracellular nerve centers of themiRNA pathway in male germ cells | - | 2006 | 24 |
| In normal spermatogenesis, E2F1 mRNA translation is down regulated by miRNA (from the miR-17-92 cluster) to protect meiotic cells from apoptosis.Expression of miR-17-92 cluster is associated with reduced apoptosis in carcinoma in situ cells of the testis | RT-PCR | 2007 | 25 |
| Determination of miRNA expression profile in mouse testes in sexually immature and mature individuals | Microarray assay andquantitative real-time PCR | 2007 | 26 |
| Describing expression profiling of testis-expressed miRNAs to show some discriminatingly and uniquely expressed miRNA in murine testis | Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses | 2007 | 27 |
| Showing the differential pattern of gene expression for the Drosha, Dicer and Argonaute proteins in the germ and somatic cells of mouse testis | Quantitative real-time PCR for mRNA of Drosha, Dicer and Argonaute proteins in the germ and somatic cells of mouse testis | 2008 | 28 |
| Showing the localization of miRNAs (in addition to PIWI associated small RNA) in the nucleolus of Sertoli cells in addition to the chromosome cores, the telomeres and the XY body of spermatocytes | Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), microarray, quantitative real-time PCR | 2008 | 29 |
| Dependency of proliferation of primordial germ cells and spermatogonia to miRNAs | Real-time PCR using a specific knockout mice in which Dicer gene was solely absent in its germ cells | 2008 | 30 |
| Dependency of spermatogenesis to Dicer in testis of mice | Real-time quantitative PCR, microarray | 2009 | 31 |
| Necessity of Drosha (RNase III) for spermatogenesis like Dicer | Generation of postnatal male germ line-specific Drosha or Dicer knock-out mice | 2012 | 32 |
| Identification of seven miRNA molecules discriminately expressed between postnatal gonocytes and spermatogonia to show their possible effect in maintaining germ cell differentiation and or pluripotency in mice | miRNA microarray | 2012 | 33 |