Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice
Male reproductive aging, or andropause, is associated with gradual age-related changes in testicular properties, sperm production, and erectile function. The testis, which is the primary male reproductive organ, produces sperm and androgens. To understand the transcriptional changes underlying male...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/2895 |
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| author | Gwidong Han Seong-Hyeon Hong Seung-Jae Lee Seung-Pyo Hong Chunghee Cho |
| author_facet | Gwidong Han Seong-Hyeon Hong Seung-Jae Lee Seung-Pyo Hong Chunghee Cho |
| author_sort | Gwidong Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Male reproductive aging, or andropause, is associated with gradual age-related changes in testicular properties, sperm production, and erectile function. The testis, which is the primary male reproductive organ, produces sperm and androgens. To understand the transcriptional changes underlying male reproductive aging, we performed transcriptome analysis of aging testes in mice. A total of 31,386 mRNAs and 9387 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified in the mouse testes of diverse age groups (3, 6, 12, and 18 months old) by total RNA sequencing. Of them, 1571 mRNAs and 715 lncRNAs exhibited changes in their levels during testicular aging. Most of these aging-related transcripts exhibited slight and continuous expression changes during aging, whereas some (9.6%) showed larger expression changes. The aging-related transcripts could be classified into diverse expression patterns, in which the transcripts changed mainly at 3–6 months or at 12–18 months. Our subsequent in silico analysis provided insight into the potential features of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs. We identified testis-specific aging-related transcripts (121 mRNAs and 25 lncRNAs) by comparison with a known testis-specific transcript profile, and then predicted the potential reproduction-related functions of the mRNAs. By selecting transcripts that are altered only between 3 and 18 months, we identified 46 mRNAs and 34 lncRNAs that are stringently related to the terminal stage of male reproductive aging. Some of these mRNAs were related to hormonal regulation. Finally, our in silico analysis of the 34 aging-related lncRNAs revealed that they co-localized with 19 testis-expressed protein-coding genes, 13 of which are considered to show testis-specific or -predominant expression. These nearby genes could be potential targets of <i>cis</i>-regulation by the aging-related lncRNAs. Collectively, our results identify a number of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs in mice and provide a basis for the future investigation of these transcripts in the context of aging-associated testicular dysfunction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:37:17Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:37:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-523c36c867234e649d0e8f6e41f921912023-11-22T22:48:17ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-10-011011289510.3390/cells10112895Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in MiceGwidong Han0Seong-Hyeon Hong1Seung-Jae Lee2Seung-Pyo Hong3Chunghee Cho4School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, KoreaSchool of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, KoreaMale reproductive aging, or andropause, is associated with gradual age-related changes in testicular properties, sperm production, and erectile function. The testis, which is the primary male reproductive organ, produces sperm and androgens. To understand the transcriptional changes underlying male reproductive aging, we performed transcriptome analysis of aging testes in mice. A total of 31,386 mRNAs and 9387 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified in the mouse testes of diverse age groups (3, 6, 12, and 18 months old) by total RNA sequencing. Of them, 1571 mRNAs and 715 lncRNAs exhibited changes in their levels during testicular aging. Most of these aging-related transcripts exhibited slight and continuous expression changes during aging, whereas some (9.6%) showed larger expression changes. The aging-related transcripts could be classified into diverse expression patterns, in which the transcripts changed mainly at 3–6 months or at 12–18 months. Our subsequent in silico analysis provided insight into the potential features of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs. We identified testis-specific aging-related transcripts (121 mRNAs and 25 lncRNAs) by comparison with a known testis-specific transcript profile, and then predicted the potential reproduction-related functions of the mRNAs. By selecting transcripts that are altered only between 3 and 18 months, we identified 46 mRNAs and 34 lncRNAs that are stringently related to the terminal stage of male reproductive aging. Some of these mRNAs were related to hormonal regulation. Finally, our in silico analysis of the 34 aging-related lncRNAs revealed that they co-localized with 19 testis-expressed protein-coding genes, 13 of which are considered to show testis-specific or -predominant expression. These nearby genes could be potential targets of <i>cis</i>-regulation by the aging-related lncRNAs. Collectively, our results identify a number of testicular aging-related mRNAs and lncRNAs in mice and provide a basis for the future investigation of these transcripts in the context of aging-associated testicular dysfunction.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/2895spermatogenesistestisaginglong non-coding RNAtesticular agingandropause |
| spellingShingle | Gwidong Han Seong-Hyeon Hong Seung-Jae Lee Seung-Pyo Hong Chunghee Cho Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice Cells spermatogenesis testis aging long non-coding RNA testicular aging andropause |
| title | Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice |
| title_full | Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice |
| title_short | Transcriptome Analysis of Testicular Aging in Mice |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis of testicular aging in mice |
| topic | spermatogenesis testis aging long non-coding RNA testicular aging andropause |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/2895 |
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