Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
Genes (Basel). 2023 Feb 15;14(2):498. doi: 10.3390/genes14020498.
Reproductive failure is a major contributor to inefficiency within the cow-calf industry. Particularly problematic is the inability to diagnose heifer reproductive issues prior to pregnancy diagnosis following their first breeding season. Therefore, we hypothesized that gene expression from the peripheral white blood cells at weaning could predict the future reproductive potential of beef heifers. To investigate this, the gene expression was measured using RNA-Seq in Angus-Simmental crossbred heifers sampled at weaning and retrospectively classified as fertile (FH, = 8) or subfertile (SFH, = 7) after pregnancy diagnosis. We identified 92 differentially expressed genes between the groups. Network co-expression analysis identified 14 and 52 hub targets. ENSBTAG00000052659, , , and were exclusive hubs to the FH group, while 42 hubs were exclusive to the SFH group. The differential connectivity between the networks of each group revealed a gain in connectivity due to the rewiring of major regulators in the SFH group. The exclusive hub targets from FH were over-represented for the CXCR chemokine receptor pathway and inflammasome complex, while for the SFH, they were over-represented for immune response and cytokine production pathways. These multiple interactions revealed novel targets and pathways predicting reproductive potential at an early stage of heifer development.
繁殖失败是奶牛养殖行业效率低下的主要原因之一。特别成问题的是，无法在第一次配种季节后怀孕诊断之前诊断小母牛的生殖问题。因此，我们假设在断奶时从外周白细胞中获取的基因表达可以预测肉牛小母牛未来的繁殖潜力。为了研究这一点，我们使用 RNA-Seq 测量了 Angus-Simmental 杂交小母牛断奶时的基因表达，并在怀孕诊断后回顾性地将其分类为有生育力（FH， = 8）或低生育力（SFH， = 7）。我们在两组之间鉴定出 92 个差异表达基因。网络共表达分析确定了 14 个和 52 个枢纽靶标。ENSBTAG00000052659、 、 和 是 FH 组的特有枢纽，而 42 个枢纽则是 SFH 组的特有枢纽。由于 SFH 组中主要调节剂的重新布线，每个组的网络之间的差异连接性增加。FH 的特有枢纽靶标在 CXCR 趋化因子受体途径和炎性小体复合物中过表达，而对于 SFH，它们在免疫反应和细胞因子产生途径中过表达。这些多种相互作用揭示了预测小母牛发育早期繁殖潜力的新靶标和途径。
