精子质量是影响畜禽繁殖效率的关键因素之一。以往认为精子仅向合子提供雄性细胞核内的遗传物质，最近研究发现精子中携带大量tRNA衍生的小RNA（tsRNA），可进入受精卵并参与胚胎发育的调节。课题组前期结果表明，炎症状态下小鼠精子中tsRNA含量增加，用此类精液受精后雌性窝产仔数减少，但精子中tsRNA的来源不明。我们提出“炎症可引起附睾中tsRNA的生成发生改变，生成的tsRNA通过附睾小体传递给精子，干扰早期胚胎的发育和存活”的假说。项目以猪附睾中tsRNA的生成为重点，研究炎症状态下猪精子中tsRNA的来源及对胚胎质量的影响。研究内容主要包括：①阐明炎症对附睾tsRNA生成的影响及机制；②明确附睾小体向精子传递tsRNA的过程；③明确猪精子中获得的tsRNA对胚胎质量的影响。所得结果从理论上可揭示tsRNA在父子遗传信息传递中的效应，在生产中可为提高猪精子质量、提升繁殖效率提供理论指导。

Sperm quality is one of the key factors which affecting the reproductive efficiency of livestock. It was thought that sperm just provided male nucleus genetics into zygote. Recently, a large number of tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) were found in spermatozoa and participate in the regulation of embryonic development. Our preliminary results showed that the abundance of tsRNA in spermatozoa was increased mice with inflammatory response. Moreover, the litter size of female mice was reduced when fertilized with this spermatozoa. However, the origin of tsRNA is unknown. Based on these results, we hypothesized that "Inflammation can cause a change in epididymal tsRNA biogenesis, and then the tsRNA deliver to sperm through the epididymosomes and interfer the development and survival of early embryos". The project will be focus on the biogenesis of tsRNA in the boar epididymis. Moreover, to investigate the origin of sperm tsRNA in inflammatory boar and its effects on the quality of embryo. The main contents including: ① To clarify the effects and the regulation mechanisms of inflammation on epididymal tsRNA biogenesis; ② To clarify the process of tsRNA delivery through epididymosomes to spermatozoa; ③ To clarify the effects of tsRNA on the quality of embryo. The results shed light on the functions of tsRNA in inheritance of acquired traits, and provide theoretical guidance for improving boar sperm quality and improving reproductive efficiency.