miRNAs as potential spermatogenesis biomarkers in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe diagnosis in cases of male infertility. In some cases of NOA a sperm retrieval can be done by microdissection (microTESE) in order to fertilize oocytes through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, there is a lack of possible biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis before the microTESE. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with an essential role in post-transcriptional regulation. They play a great role as regulators of various biological processes, including spermatogenesis. Therefore, the number of studies that seek miRNAs as biomarkers (either of infertility or of spermatogenesis in patients with NOA) is increasing markedly.