Li Zijian, Wu Hao, Fu Jing, Mushtaq Maida, Khan Muhammad, Liu Yong, Azeem Zobia, Shi Hongmei, He Yang, Zhang Ru, Rahman Muhammad Aziz Ur, Kang Jiajia, Ge Changrong, Wang Kun
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Panlong District, Kunming 650201, China.
Biology (Basel). 2024 Dec 14;13(12):1048. doi: 10.3390/biology13121048.
The eggshell quality traits in avian species, including Yunnong chickens (YN), are crucial for commercial and breeding purposes. The use of advanced biotechnologies, such as gene sequencing, has become increasingly common for identifying genetic markers and comparing specific traits in livestock. However, genetic markers related to eggshell traits in YN chickens remain unexplored. This study aimed to compare eggshell quality traits and identify genetic markers in YN chickens versus commercial Jingfen chickens (JF). A total of 400 chicks (200 per breed) were reared for 300 days under controlled conditions. At the end, 60 eggs from each breed were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to examine eggshell cross-sections and mammillary layer structure. Tissue samples from kidneys and eggshell glands were collected from six hens per breed for RT-qPCR analysis to study gene expression profiles. Results showed that YN chickens had significantly higher eggshell strength, thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness than JF chickens ( < 0.01). Despite this, YN chickens had a thinner mammillary layer. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed five candidate genes related to eggshells (LSS, NSDHL, MSMO1, SQLE, and FDFT1) that play an important role in this process. Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in several biological processes, including steroid biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, and thiamine metabolism. Based on these results, the YN chickens have strong eggshells with better thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness. In addition, genomic and pathways analysis suggest a complex interaction of metabolic, immune, and cellular processes potentially influencing eggshell quality traits in poultry.
禽类的蛋壳质量性状，包括云农鸡（YN），对于商业和育种目的至关重要。先进生物技术的应用，如基因测序，在识别家畜遗传标记和比较特定性状方面越来越普遍。然而，YN鸡与蛋壳性状相关的遗传标记仍未被探索。本研究旨在比较YN鸡与商品京粉鸡（JF）的蛋壳质量性状并识别遗传标记。总共400只雏鸡（每个品种200只）在可控条件下饲养300天。最后，对每个品种的60枚鸡蛋进行扫描电子显微镜分析，以检查蛋壳横截面和乳头层结构。从每个品种的6只母鸡中采集肾脏和蛋壳腺的组织样本进行RT-qPCR分析，以研究基因表达谱。结果表明，YN鸡的蛋壳强度、厚度、乳头密度和有效层厚度显著高于JF鸡（<0.01）。尽管如此，YN鸡的乳头层较薄。RT-qPCR分析确定了五个与蛋壳相关的候选基因（LSS、NSDHL、MSMO1、SQLE和FDFT1），它们在这一过程中起重要作用。通路分析显示在几个生物学过程中显著富集，包括类固醇生物合成、甘油脂代谢、嘌呤代谢和硫胺素代谢。基于这些结果，YN鸡的蛋壳坚固，厚度、乳头密度和有效层厚度更佳。此外，基因组和通路分析表明代谢、免疫和细胞过程之间存在复杂的相互作用，可能影响家禽的蛋壳质量性状。
