Tao Zhiyun, Xu Wenjuan, Song Weitao, Lu Lizhi, Zhang Shuangjie, Liu Hongxiang, Wang Zhicheng, Gu Haotian, Zhu Chunhong, Li Huifang
Department of waterfowl breeding and production, Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Sciences, Yangzhou 225125, China.
institute of Livestock and veterinary Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.
Poult Sci. 2025 Aug 22;104(11):105715. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105715.
While spermatogenesis has been extensively characterized in mammals, its molecular underpinnings in avian species remain largely unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, we performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of duck testes across developmental stages (10-week immature vs. 23-week mature). Our analysis generated a comprehensive cellular atlas comprising 54,702 cells, resolving eight germ cell clusters (three spermatogonia [SPG], three spermatocytes [SPC], two spermatozoa [SPT]) and nine somatic populations, including peritubular myoid cells, immune subsets (T cells, macrophages, granulocytes), endothelial cells, Leydig cells, and three Sertoli cell subtypes, each defined by unique marker gene signatures. Furthermore, novel marker genes were identified, including EXFABP for granulocyte, ARHGAP15 for T cell regulation, FDX1 specific to Leydig cells (LC), and TSSK3/TSSK2 linked to elongated spermatid formation (SPT). Notably, we identified some novel molecular markers distinguishing these populations. Pseudotemporal trajectory reconstruction of germline development revealed stage-specific enrichment of ribosome, endoplasmic reticulum protein processing, and autophagy pathways. Core regulators MRPL13, MRPL2, MRPL22, MRPS14, MRPS7 (ribosome), HSPA5 (ER stress response), and PIK3C3 (autophagy) emerged as molecular hubs showing progressive downregulation during differentiation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of germ cells and Sertoli cells between immature (IMT) and mature (MT) testes revealed significant enrichment of the spliceosome pathway in both germ and Sertoli cells. Critical spliceosome components SNRPG, SF3B3, and SNRPF exhibited coordinated downregulation during testicular maturation, suggesting their role as negative regulators of spermatogenic progression. This study establishes the first high-resolution cellular blueprint of avian spermatogenesis, delineating regulatory networks of duck testis cell development. Our findings provide valuable datasets and mechanistic insights into the evolutionary specialization of reproductive strategies in poultry.
虽然哺乳动物的精子发生已得到广泛研究,但其在禽类中的分子基础仍 largely 未被探索。为填补这一知识空白,我们对鸭睾丸在不同发育阶段(10周龄未成熟 vs. 23周龄成熟)进行了单细胞转录组分析。我们的分析生成了一个包含54,702个细胞的全面细胞图谱,解析出八个生殖细胞簇(三个精原细胞 [SPG]、三个精母细胞 [SPC]、两个精子 [SPT])和九个体细胞群体,包括睾丸肌样细胞、免疫亚群(T细胞、巨噬细胞、粒细胞)、内皮细胞、睾丸间质细胞以及三种支持细胞亚型,每种细胞亚型都由独特的标记基因特征定义。此外,还鉴定出了新的标记基因,包括用于粒细胞的EXFABP、用于T细胞调节的ARHGAP15、睾丸间质细胞(LC)特有的FDX1以及与延长型精子细胞形成(SPT)相关的TSSK3/TSSK2。值得注意的是,我们鉴定出了一些区分这些群体的新分子标记。生殖系发育的伪时间轨迹重建揭示了核糖体、内质网蛋白加工和自噬途径在特定阶段的富集。核心调节因子MRPL13、MRPL2、MRPL22、MRPS14、MRPS7(核糖体)、HSPA5(内质网应激反应)和PIK3C3(自噬)作为分子枢纽出现,在分化过程中呈现逐渐下调的趋势。未成熟(IMT)和成熟(MT)睾丸之间生殖细胞和支持细胞的比较转录组分析显示,剪接体途径在生殖细胞和支持细胞中均有显著富集。关键的剪接体成分SNRPG、SF3B3和SNRPF在睾丸成熟过程中表现出协同下调,表明它们作为精子发生进程负调节因子的作用。本研究建立了首个禽类精子发生的高分辨率细胞蓝图,描绘了鸭睾丸细胞发育的调控网络。我们的研究结果为家禽生殖策略的进化特化提供了有价值的数据集和机制见解。