TOKYO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A mouse experiment conducted by Tohoku University in Japan found that male rats may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in their offspring. The microRNA of spermatozoa changes in male rats as they aged, and these changes may be involved in the regulation of genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Northeastern University recently issued a press release to introduce that researchers compared the microRNA in the sperm of mice aged 3 months, 12 months and 20 months to analyze the changes in microRNA with age.
The results showed that 237 of the 447 microRNAs they analyzed changed with age, and some of them regulated genes related to the nervous system, especially autism spectrum disorder. For example, the amount of the two microribonucleic acids that regulate the two types of RNA in the genes, which are important for brain function, changes significantly with age. In other words, changes in sperm microRNA due to male aging have the potential to affect the development and growth of offspring.
According to the research team, the impact of egg aging on the fertility of offspring has been widely known, and the current concern about sperm aging is limited to the level of reproductive ability. This study shows that it is necessary to give more consideration to sperm when performing reproductive medical procedures.
The findings were recently published in the British journal Scientific Reports. (ENDS).