Xiao Xue, Ji Zhibin, Wang Tong, Zhu Dejie, Li Zhonghui, Xu Xinming, Li Fen
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-grain Feed Resources (Co- construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Livestock Germplasm Innovation & Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China.
Institute of Animal biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, 830026, China.
BMC Genomics. 2025 Jun 5;26(1):564. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-11732-5.
Reproduction is a complex process, which is influenced by the inheritance of many minor genes and some major genes. The pituitary gland is an important endocrine organ that regulates estrus and reproduction in sheep mainly through hormone synthesis and secretion. Previous studies on reproduction traits have focused mainly on folliculogenesis and ovulation in sheep with different fecundities, and few systematic analyses of the mRNAs expressed in the pituitary have been performed. To explore the intrinsic molecular regulatory mechanisms and gene regulatory network of sheep reproductive traits, key genes affecting multiple fetal traits, such as ovulation number and litter size, were screened to provide a new reference for the study of reproduction traits in sheep.
In this study, three healthy small-tailed Han sheep and three healthy Wadi sheep were selected respectively to form a high-reproduction group (small-tailed Han sheep, HP group) and a low-reproduction group (Wadi sheep, LP group). ONT full-length transcriptome sequencing technology was used for mRNA identification, screening, and functional analysis. A total of 7,123 DEGs were found between the two groups of sheep, including 3,551 genes that were upregulated and 3,572 genes that were downregulated in the HP group. The expression of screened genes PRKACB, MAPK1, CAMK2D, PIK3CB, GNAI3, RAC1, PTK2, ITGB1, PRKCB, MAPK10, and MAPK13 significantly differed between the HP and LP groups. GO and KEGG terms related to pituitary function and reproduction were enriched, including reproductive processes, responses to stimuli, and synapses, as well as the mTOR signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, ERK1/2 signaling pathways and MAPK signaling pathways.
Our results clearly indicate that the DEGs detected were involved in the development of morphology and structure of tissues and organs, as well as the secretion of hormones in the endocrine system, which could provide a scientific basis for elucidating the genetic mechanisms of high reproduction in sheep.
繁殖是一个复杂的过程，受到许多微效基因和一些主效基因遗传的影响。垂体是一个重要的内分泌器官，主要通过激素的合成和分泌来调节绵羊的发情和繁殖。以往关于繁殖性状的研究主要集中在不同繁殖力绵羊的卵泡发生和排卵方面，对垂体中表达的mRNA进行的系统分析较少。为了探索绵羊繁殖性状的内在分子调控机制和基因调控网络，筛选出影响排卵数和产仔数等多个胎儿性状的关键基因，为绵羊繁殖性状的研究提供新的参考。
本研究分别选取3只健康的小尾寒羊和3只健康的洼地绵羊组成高繁殖力组（小尾寒羊，HP组）和低繁殖力组（洼地绵羊，LP组）。采用ONT全长转录组测序技术进行mRNA鉴定、筛选和功能分析。两组绵羊之间共发现7123个差异表达基因（DEG），其中HP组上调基因3551个，下调基因3572个。筛选出的PRKACB、MAPK1、CAMK2D、PIK3CB、GNAI3、RAC1、PTK2、ITGB1、PRKCB、MAPK10和MAPK13基因在HP组和LP组之间的表达存在显著差异。与垂体功能和繁殖相关的GO和KEGG术语得到富集，包括生殖过程、对刺激的反应和突触，以及mTOR信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、cAMP信号通路、ERK1/2信号通路和MAPK信号通路。
我们的结果清楚地表明，检测到的差异表达基因参与了组织器官形态结构的发育以及内分泌系统中激素的分泌，这可为阐明绵羊高繁殖力的遗传机制提供科学依据。
