Li J, Li Z, Liu S, Zia R, Liang A, Yang L
College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Province's Engineering Research Center in Buffalo Breeding & Products, China.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2017 Dec;187:181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2017.11.004. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
The normal maturation and ovulation from ovarian follicles is important in ensuring conception and improving fertility of buffalo. The molecular regulation mechanism of buffalo follicles growth, however, remains unknown. This study analyzed the gene expression profiles associated with buffalo ovarian follicle growth. According to the analysis of RNA sequencing, 17,700 unigenes and 13,672 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected. A total of 30 common DEGs were identified during four stages of follicle growth, and the expression patterns are basically synchronized, suggesting the products as a result of expressions of these genes may cooperate to regulate follicular development. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the majority of DEGs in early stage of follicular growth were enriched in ribosomal and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways, and the expression patterns of these DEGs are basically up-regulated at the beginning of follicular growth (<8mm, diameter), and then down-regulated (8-12mm) in the following stages of follicular development. The pathway of immune signaling, including allograft rejection, chemokine signaling pathway, natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, phagosome, and antigen processing and presentation, was significantly enriched in the last stage of follicular development (>12mm), which indicates that the immune system has an important role in the last stage of follicular maturation and ovulation. This study provided a gene expression profile of buffalo follicle growth, and provided an insight into biological processes associated with molecular regulation of ovarian follicle growth.
卵巢卵泡的正常成熟和排卵对于确保水牛受孕及提高其繁殖力至关重要。然而，水牛卵泡生长的分子调控机制仍不清楚。本研究分析了与水牛卵巢卵泡生长相关的基因表达谱。通过RNA测序分析，检测到17,700个单基因和13,672个差异表达基因（DEGs）。在卵泡生长的四个阶段共鉴定出30个常见的DEGs，其表达模式基本同步，表明这些基因表达的产物可能协同调节卵泡发育。此外，GO和KEGG富集分析显示，卵泡生长早期的大多数DEGs富集在核糖体和氧化磷酸化信号通路中，这些DEGs的表达模式在卵泡生长开始时（直径<8mm）基本上调，然后在卵泡发育的后续阶段（8-12mm）下调。免疫信号通路，包括同种异体移植排斥、趋化因子信号通路、自然杀伤细胞介导的细胞毒性、吞噬体以及抗原加工和呈递，在卵泡发育的最后阶段（>12mm）显著富集，这表明免疫系统在卵泡成熟和排卵的最后阶段具有重要作用。本研究提供了水牛卵泡生长的基因表达谱，并深入了解了与卵巢卵泡生长分子调控相关的生物学过程。
