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Effects of microRNA-21-5p treatment of porcine sperm before and after capacitation on in vitro oocyte fertilization and embryo development
Shao-Yu Peng, Kai-Xuan Liu, Chun-Chih Chang, Yu-Chen Huang, Chen-Yu Wang, Xiu-An Tang, Perng-Chi Shen, Shen-Chang Chang, Chih-Jen Chou, Chao-Wei Huang, Min-Jung Lin,
Yu-Hsiang Yu 
Abstract
Context: During in vitro fertilization (IVF), polyspermy occurs more frequently in pigs than in other species. Sperm function and embryo development are influenced by the paracrine effects of microRNAs. Aims: In this study, we investigated the effects of microRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) treatment of porcine sperm on IVF efficiency and embryo development. Methods: Porcine sperm were treated with no miR-21-5p (control group), 50 nM miR-21-5p (miRNA group), or 100 nM miR-21-5p inhibitor (inhibitor group) for 0–12 h. Key results: Notably, miR-21-5p and its inhibitor exerted no significant effect on acrosome integrity or sperm viability. Sperm viability, which at different time points during treatment, exhibited no significant change from 0 to 4 h but decreased significantly by 12 h (P < 0.05). No significant difference in fertilization parameters was observed among sperm treated with miR-21-5p or its inhibitor during capacitation, those treated during IVF, or those treated during both capacitation and IVF. The rates of cleavage formation, two-cell stage development, and blastocyst formation were significantly elevated (indicating accelerated development) for embryos derived from sperm treated with miR-21-5p inhibitor during IVF (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of porcine sperm with miRNA-21-5p inhibitor at the stage of IVF could enhance the development of porcine embryos. Implications: Our findings may inform interventions for enhancing embryo development during IVF in pigs.
AN25002 Accepted 21 August 2025
© CSIRO 2025
