Decreased miR-149 expression in sperm is correlated with the quality of early embryonic development in conventional in vitro fertilization.

Abstract miRNAs play a critical role in the regulation of highly orchestrated gene expression profiles during spermatogenesis and early human embryonic development. However, there is much less information available on the effects of sperm-borne miRNAs on human embryonic development than on spermatogenesis. This study was designed to assess the relationship between two sperm-borne miRNAs (miR-34c and miR-149) and preimplantation embryo development in conventional in vitro fertilization treatment. A positive correlation was seen between a decreased level of miR-149 and a higher percentage of good-quality embryos on day 3 in conventional in vitro fertilization treatment (P