Characterization of the and hypothalamus transcriptome in female sheep under different reproductive stages.

For understanding the molecular events underlying the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases of estrous cycle, and anestrous (A) phase, the (PT), and hypothalamus (HT) transcriptomes of 21 ewes were studied. In HT, 72 and 3 differential expression genes (DEGs) were found when comparing F A and L . A, respectively. In PT, 6 and 4 DEGs were found in F . A and L . A comparisons, respectively. Enrichment analysis for DEGs between the F and A phases in the HT revealed significant clusters, mainly associated with actin-binding, and cytoskeleton, that are related to neural plasticity modulated by gonadal steroid hormones, as well as with oxytocin signaling. We found that DEGs in PT had higher differences in expression levels than those found in HT. In this sense, the was highly upregulated in the F and L . A phases, being and highly downregulated in L . A comparison. The gene in PT, related to LH regulation, was upregulated in the F phase. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed multiple pathways related to neurotransmission and neuronal plasticity. Our study reveals new candidate genes involved in the reproductive stages' transitions in seasonal sheep.