Shariati Gazgazareh Parvin, Masoudi Ali Akbar, Vaez Torshizi Rasoul, Ehsani Alireza, Mosavian Zaynab
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Computer Science, School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2023 Apr;58(4):548-559. doi: 10.1111/rda.14325. Epub 2023 Feb 16.
Ovulation rate and litter size are the main reproductive traits with high economic value in the sheep breeding industry. In this study, three Shal ewes (multiparous) and three Sangsari ewes (uniparous) at the age of 5 were used. The live weight was between 45 and 50 kg at an extremely body condition score of 3. These breeds are marked seasonal reproduction activity and are often bred in semi-closed breeding systems. Total RNAs were extracted from the ovarian tissues, and RNA sequencing was carried out. The DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) database was then used to annotate genes, and the string database and the Cytoscape software were used to investigate their interactions. Then path-act network analysis and gene-act network analysis were investigated. The results indicated that 19,932 genes were differentially expressed. The 5968 differentially expressed genes were identified in Shal ewe's ovarian tissue compared to Sangsari ewes (FDR < 0.05), of which 2921 genes were up-regulated and 3047 genes were down-regulated. Bioinformatics analysis exhibited that most of the biological processes and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways associated with significant DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) in the two studied breeds are associated with oocyte maturation and metabolism. MAPK signalling pathways and Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis are the most important biological pathways associated with reproductive and fertility traits in the Shal breed. AKT3, MAPK8, MAPK9 and RELA genes are also important genes related to the fertility of multiparous sheep. Analysis of ovarian RNA-seq data identified that most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in various reproductive processes including folliculogenesis, ovulation, ovarian and embryonic development. The MAPK signalling pathway had the most interaction with other pathways, and the AKT3 gene could be a powerful candidate gene in the reproduction and fertility of Shal sheep. These results could pave the way for future efforts to address sheep prolificacy barriers.
排卵率和产仔数是绵羊养殖业中具有高经济价值的主要繁殖性状。在本研究中，选用了3只5岁的沙尔母羊（经产）和3只5岁的桑萨里母羊（初产）。在体况评分为3的极端情况下，体重在45至50千克之间。这些品种具有明显的季节性繁殖活动，且常采用半封闭式饲养系统。从卵巢组织中提取总RNA，并进行RNA测序。然后使用DAVID（注释、可视化和综合发现数据库）数据库对基因进行注释，并使用String数据库和Cytoscape软件研究它们的相互作用。接着进行了通路-活性网络分析和基因-活性网络分析。结果表明，有19932个基因差异表达。与桑萨里母羊相比，在沙尔母羊的卵巢组织中鉴定出5968个差异表达基因（FDR<0.05），其中2921个基因上调，3047个基因下调。生物信息学分析表明，两个研究品种中与显著差异表达基因相关的大多数生物学过程和KEGG（京都基因与基因组百科全书）通路都与卵母细胞成熟和代谢有关。MAPK信号通路和泛素介导的蛋白水解是与沙尔品种繁殖和生育性状相关的最重要生物学通路。AKT3、MAPK8、MAPK9和RELA基因也是与经产绵羊生育力相关的重要基因。对卵巢RNA-seq数据的分析表明，大多数差异表达基因参与了包括卵泡发生、排卵、卵巢和胚胎发育在内的各种生殖过程。MAPK信号通路与其他通路的相互作用最多，AKT3基因可能是沙尔羊繁殖和生育力方面的一个有力候选基因。这些结果可为今后解决绵羊多产障碍的努力铺平道路。
