Biol.Rev.(2019),94,pp.415–438.415doi:10.1111/brv.12459RolesofmicroRNAsinmammalianreproduction:fromthecommitmentofgermcellstoperi-implantationembryosAbuMusaMdTalimurReza1,Yun-JungChoi1,SungGuHan2,HyukSong1,ChankyuPark1,KwonhoHong1∗andJin-HoiKim1∗1DepartmentofStemCellandRegenerativeBiotechnology,HumanizedPigResearchCentre(SRC),KonkukUniversity,Seoul143-701,RepublicofKorea2DepartmentofFoodScienceandBiotechnologyofAnimalResources,KonkukUniversity,Seoul05029,RepublicofKoreaABSTRACTMicroRNAs(miRNAs)areactiveregulatorsofnumerousbiologicalandphysiologicalprocessesincludingmostoftheeventsofmammalianreproduction.UnderstandingthebiologicalfunctionsofmiRNAsinthecontextofmammalianreproductionwillallowabetterandcomparativeunderstandingoffertilityandsterilityinmaleandfemalemammals.Herein,wesummarizerecentprogressinmiRNA-mediatedregulationofmammalianreproductionandhighlightthesignificanceofmiRNAsindifferentaspectsofmammalianreproductionincludingthebiogenesisofgermcells,thefunctionalityofreproductiveorgans,andthedevelopmentofearlyembryos.Furthermore,wefocusonthegeneexpressionregulatoryfeedbackloopsinvolvinghormonesandmiRNAexpressiontoincreaseourunderstandingofgermcellcommitmentandthefunctioningofreproductiveorgans.Finally,wediscusstheinfluenceofmiRNAsonmaleandfemalereproductivefailure,andprovideperspectivesforfuturestudiesonthistopic.Keywords:miRNAs,mammalianreproduction,gametogenesis,hormonalbalance,peri-implantation,germlayerspecification.CONTENTSI.Introduction..............................................................................................415II.LossofmiRNA-processingmachineryimpairsmammalianreproduction................................416III.miRNAsareinvolvedinsex-specificationandcommitmentofmammaliangonads......................417IV.RolesofmiRNAsinmalereproduction..................................................................419(1)Theformationofmalegonads.......................................................................419(2)Thecommitmentandmaintenanceo...
