Role of small RNAs harbored by sperm in embryonic development and offspring phenotype

BackgroundRNA harbored by mammalian sperm is increasingly considered to be an additional source of paternal hereditary information, beyond DNA. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of sperm small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in modulating early embryonic development and offspring phenotype. The biogenesis of the sperm sRNA payload of mammalian sperm has been explored in many studies. AimsTo summarize the possible mechanisms underpinning sperm sncRNAs regulating embryonic development and offspring phenotypes. Materials and MethodsPubMed database (papers published from 2002 to 2022) was searched for studies reporting the impact of sperm sncRNAs on early embryonic development and offspring phenotype. ResultsThe sncRNAs categories and source (such as tRNA-derived small RNAs, ribosomal RNA-derived small RNAs, microRNAs, and PIWI-interacting RNAs), and RNA modification upon different types of environmental exposure or by paternally-acquired factors were summarized. The potential mechanisms whereby the modifications of sperm sncRNAs modulate embryonic development and offspring phenotype under normal and pathological conditions (such as obesity, altered glucose metabolism, and psychological stress) were discussed. Discussion and conclusionSperm sncRNAs modulate embryo development and offspring phenotype, and the resulting modifications may be transgenerationally inherited.