Zhou Xiaoli, Xu Yuhang, Fang Cheng, Ye Chutian, Liang Weiming, Fan Zhexia, Ma Xuerong, Liu Aijun, Zhang Xiquan, Luo Qingbin
College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
Genomics. 2025 May;117(3):111035. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111035. Epub 2025 Mar 20.
The long-term selection for meat has led to the poor egg production efficiency in broiler. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptional levels of hypothalamus and ovary during the pre-laying (PP) and laying periods (LP) of broiler breeders. By combining these with the levels of reproductive hormones and ovarian metabolism, to reveal the neuroendocrine control mechanism of ovarian development. Results showed that during LP, the number of LYFs, SYFs and WFs, the thickness of the granular cell layer, and the serum LH, FSH, P4 and E2 levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). A total of 1188 and 2481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in hypothalamus and ovary, respectively. 1972 significantly differentially metabolites (DMs) were detected in ovary. In hypothalamus, the expression of neuroendocrine regulatory genes such as TRH, AVT, VIP, and NYB in the Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway regulated the LH and FSH secretion via the HPG axis. In ovary, the promotion of GCs proliferation may occur through the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway, which increased the thickness of the GCs layer. This helped to receive gonadotropin signals and increased P4 and E2 secretion. Meanwhile, the decreased expression levels of ovarian development inhibitory factors in the TGF-beta signaling pathway, including BMP2, BMP4, BMP15 and AMHR2, and the increased expression levels of MMPs, including MMP9, MMP11 and MMP13, may regulate the synthesis of metabolites associated with steroid hormone secretion and ovarian development, such as E2, E2-3S, 7α-OH-DHEA, CHO and AD. These genes and metabolites may play an important role in HPG axis in regulating ovarian development.
长期的肉类选择导致了肉鸡产蛋效率低下。在本研究中，我们分析了肉种鸡产蛋前期（PP）和产蛋期（LP）下丘脑和卵巢的转录水平。通过将这些与生殖激素水平和卵巢代谢相结合，以揭示卵巢发育的神经内分泌控制机制。结果表明，在LP期间，LYFs、SYFs和WFs的数量、颗粒细胞层厚度以及血清LH、FSH、P4和E2水平显著增加（P<0.05）。在下丘脑和卵巢中分别检测到1188个和2481个差异表达基因（DEGs）。在卵巢中检测到1972种显著差异代谢物（DMs）。在下丘脑中，神经活性配体-受体相互作用途径中的神经内分泌调节基因如TRH、AVT、VIP和NYB的表达通过HPG轴调节LH和FSH的分泌。在卵巢中，可能通过甘油磷脂代谢途径促进GCs增殖，这增加了GCs层的厚度。这有助于接收促性腺激素信号并增加P4和E2的分泌。同时，TGF-β信号通路中卵巢发育抑制因子（包括BMP2、BMP4、BMP15和AMHR2）的表达水平降低，以及MMPs（包括MMP9、MMP11和MMP13）的表达水平增加，可能调节与类固醇激素分泌和卵巢发育相关的代谢物（如E2、E2-3S、7α-OH-DHEA、CHO和AD）的合成。这些基因和代谢物可能在HPG轴调节卵巢发育中发挥重要作用。
