OBJECTIVETo explore the stability of seminal plasma miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p and their diagnostic value for idiopathic asthenospermia.

METHODSSeminal plasma miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p with various incubation time, freeze-thaw cycles and incubation time were analyzed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the content of miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p, with U6 snRNA as the reference. The idiopathic asthenospermia group was further divided into grade I and II based on the progressive motility percent, and the content of miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p in the two grades were compared.

RESULTSNo difference was detected after incubation at room temperature and 4 degrees Celsius. But seminal plasma miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p have decreased along with the increase in freeze-thaw cycles increases. RT-PCR assayed showed that the miR-122-3p content in the idiopathic asthenospermia group was significantly lower than the control group, while miR-141-5p was significantly higher. The difference in both miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p content was statistically significant (P < 0.05). A significant difference in miR-122-3p and miR-141-5p content between a and b groups was also detected (P < 0.05). The AUC-ROC of miR-122-3p was 0.88. At the cutoff value of 1.02, the sensitivity and specificity was 83% and 84%, respectively. At the cutoff of 2.95, the AUC-ROC of miR-141-5p was 0.88. The sensitivity and specificity was 84% and 70%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMiR-122-3p and miR-141-5p in seminal plasma are stable and have certain value for the diagnosis of idiopathic asthenospermia.