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Ebrahimi M, Dattena M, Mara L, Pasciu V, Sotgiu FD, Chessa F, Luciano AM, Berlinguer F. In vitro production of meiotically competent oocytes from early antral follicles in sheep. Theriogenology 2024; 226:253-262. [PMID: 38950486 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The potential of using long in vitro culture (LIVC) of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from early antral follicles (EAFs) as an assisted reproductive technology in cattle has shown promising results. This study explored the feasibility of applying this technology to sheep as seasonal breeding animals. Ovaries from sheep were collected during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons. COCs were isolated from EAFs (350-450 μm) and cultured in TCM199 medium supplemented with 0.15 μg/mL Zn sulfate, 10-4IU/mL FSH, 10 ng/mL estradiol, 50 ng/mL testosterone, 50 ng/mL progesterone, and 5 μM Cilostamide. After five days of LIVC, the COCs were submitted to an in vitro maturation procedure. The results indicate successful in vitro development of COCs, evidenced by a significant increase in oocyte diameter (p < 0.000) and the preservation of gap junction communication between oocyte and cumulus cells. The gradual uncoupling was accompanied by a progressive chromatin transition from the non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN) to the surrounded nucleolus (SN) (p < 0.000), coupled with a gradual decrease in global transcriptional activity and an increase in oocyte meiotic competence (p < 0.000). Maintenance of oocyte-cumulus investment architecture, viability, and metaphase II capability was significantly higher in COCs collected during the breeding season (p < 0.000), suggesting higher quality than those obtained during the non-breeding season. In conclusion, our study confirms LIVC feasibility in sheep, emphasizing increased effectiveness during the breeding season in isolating higher-quality COCs from EAFs. These findings can influence improving the LIVC system in mammals with seasonal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Ebrahimi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy; Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Maria Dattena
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Laura Mara
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Valeria Pasciu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca D Sotgiu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chessa
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alberto Maria Luciano
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory (ReDBioLab), Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via Dell'Università, 6 - 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Berlinguer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, Sassari, Italy
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Zhu M, Li P, Wu W, Zheng W, Huang J, Tulafu H, Lin C, Tao W, Aladaer Q. The genetic characterization of germplasm and identification of the litter size trait associated candidate genes in Dexin mutton and fine-wool sheep. Front Genet 2024; 15:1457634. [PMID: 39211736 PMCID: PMC11359847 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1457634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Xinjiang is a major province of sheep breeding in China, which plays an important role in meeting people's needs for meat products, increasing farmers' income and sustainable development of animal husbandry. However, the genetic differentiation relationship between breeds was not clear, and most sheep had low fecundity, which seriously restricted the efficient development of sheep industry. Therefore, this study used the whole genome resequencing to detect the genetic variation of Dexin mutton and fine-wool sheep, explored the selected regions and important genes of the litter size traits, analyzed the genetic mechanism of reproductive traits, and provided new insights for the high fecundity breeding of sheep. A total of 5,236.338 G genome data and 35,884,037 SNPs were obtained. Furthermore, we identified 39 selection signals spanning candidate genes, 99 genes were significantly associated related to growth, reproduction and immunity, among which, BRIP1, BMPR1B, BMP4, NGF, etc. genes, and MAKP signaling pathway, Fanconi anemia pathway and Thyroid hormone signaling pathway and other signaling pathways were significantly correlated with litter size trait. Among them, we identified NGF, TrKA and BRIP1 genes was the important genes for sheep litter size traits and the mutation frequencies of 9 SNPs in BRIP1 gene were significantly different in domestic sheep in the world. The research provided new insights for the breeding of self-cultivated meat fine-wool sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Zhu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Weiwei Wu
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Wenxin Zheng
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Juncheng Huang
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Hanikzi Tulafu
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Changchun Lin
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Weikun Tao
- Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Qi Aladaer
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
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3
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Yao B, Tan Y, An K, Kang Y, Hou Q, Zhang D, Su J. Seasonal patterns of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the testes of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2023; 48:101143. [PMID: 37696166 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The gonads of seasonal breeding animals undergo periodic annual changes in morphology, physiological hormones, and gene expression levels. To clarify the regulatory mechanism of miRNAs in the seasonal testicular development and spermatogenesis of plateau zokors, the miRNA expression profiles in their testicles during breeding and non-breeding seasons were analyzed. In total, 447 miRNAs, including 366, 81, and 167 known, novel, and differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs, respectively, were determined in the testes. Compared to the non-breeding season, 90 DE miRNAs were upregulated and 77 DE miRNAs were downregulated during the breeding season. By analysing the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles, we predicted 2096 significant target mRNAs. According to the miRNA-mRNA interaction network, target mRNAs with DE miRNAs were related to testicular development and spermatogenesis. GO indicated that target mRNAs were enriched in spermatogenesis, cell differentiation, multicellular biological development, and flagellated sperm movement and were associated with regulating testicular development and spermatogenesis. KEGG suggested that target mRNAs were enriched in lipid and fructose metabolism and provided energy and material for spermatogenesis. The target mRNA of rno-miR-24-3p was determined to be Polyubiquitin-B (UBB). Our results provide a reference for revealing the mechanism by which miRNAs regulate testicular development and spermatogenesis in plateau zokors, which has important implications for understanding the regulation of seasonal reproduction in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohui Yao
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yuchen Tan
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Kang An
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiqi Hou
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Degang Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
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Zhu M, Yang Y, Yang H, Zhao Z, Zhang H, Blair HT, Zheng W, Wang M, Fang C, Yu Q, Zhou H, Qi H. Whole-genome resequencing of the native sheep provides insights into the microevolution and identifies genes associated with reproduction traits. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:392. [PMID: 37434152 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sheep genomes undergo numerous genes losses, gains and mutation that generates genome variability among breeds of the same species after long time natural and artificial selection. However, the microevolution of native sheep in northwest China remains elusive. Our aim was to compare the genomes and relevant reproductive traits of four sheep breeds from different climatic environments, to unveil the selection challenges that this species cope with, and the microevolutionary differences in sheep genomes. Here, we resequenced the genomes of 4 representative sheep breeds in northwest China, including Kazakh sheep and Duolang sheep of native breeds, and Hu sheep and Suffolk sheep of exotic breeds with different reproductive characteristics. RESULTS We found that these four breeds had a similar expansion experience from ~ 10,000 to 1,000,000 years ago. In the past 10,000 years, the selection intensity of the four breeds was inconsistent, resulting in differences in reproductive traits. We explored the sheep variome and selection signatures by FST and θπ. The genomic regions containing genes associated with different reproductive traits that may be potential targets for breeding and selection were detected. Furthermore, non-synonymous mutations in a set of plausible candidate genes and significant differences in their allele frequency distributions across breeds with different reproductive characteristics were found. We identified PAK1, CYP19A1 and PER1 as a likely causal gene for seasonal reproduction in native sheep through qPCR, Western blot and ELISA analyses. Also, the haplotype frequencies of 3 tested gene regions related to reproduction were significantly different among four sheep breeds. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide insights into the microevolution of native sheep and valuable genomic information for identifying genes associated with important reproductive traits in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yonglin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China.
| | - Zongsheng Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hugh T Blair
- Institute Veterinary, Animal & Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Wei Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mingyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chenhui Fang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Huaqian Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hangdong Qi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
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Wang S, Xu J, Zhao X, Feng Y, Xu W, Xue H, Wu M, Xu L. Small RNA-seq and hormones in the testes of dwarf hamsters ( Cricetulus barabensis) reveal the potential pathways in photoperiod regulated reproduction. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15687. [PMID: 37144180 PMCID: PMC10151367 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoperiod regulates the functions and development of gonadal organs of seasonally breeding animals, resulting in breeding peaks in specific seasons. miRNA plays an important role in the regulation of testicular physiological functions. However, the relationship between photoperiods and miRNA levels in testes has yet to be conclusively determined. We investigated testicular miRNA of striped dwarf hamster (Cricetulus barabensis) responses to different photoperiods (long daylength [LD], moderate daylength [MD], and short daylength [SD]) and the potential pathways involved in photoperiod regulated reproduction. Testicular weights and reproductive hormone levels were measured in each of photoperiod treatments after 30 days. The concentrations of testosterone (T) and dihydrogen testosterone (DHT) in testes and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) in serum were higher in MD than in the other two groups. Testicular weights were heaviest in MD. Small RNA-seq was performed for the testes of hamsters in three groups. A total of 769 miRNAs were identified, of which 83 were differentially expressed between LD, MD, and SD. GO and KEGG analysis of target genes revealed that some miRNAs influence testicular activities by regulating the pathways related to cell apoptosis and metabolism. Gene expression pattern analysis showed that the MAPK signaling pathway may be the core pathway for photoperiodic regulation of reproduction. These results suggest that moderate daylength is more suitable for hamster reproduction while long daylength and short daylength may regulate reproduction through different molecular pathways.
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Capra E, Kosior MA, Cocchia N, Lazzari B, Del Prete C, Longobardi V, Pizzi F, Stella A, Frigerio R, Cretich M, Consiglio AL, Gasparrini B. Variations of follicular fluid extracellular vesicles miRNAs content in relation to development stage and season in buffalo. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14886. [PMID: 36050481 PMCID: PMC9437019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18438-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) reproductive seasonality, causing cycles of milk production, is one of the major factors affecting farming profitability. Follicular fluid (FF) contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) playing an important role in modulating oocyte developmental competence and carrying microRNAs (miRNAs) essential for in vitro fertilization outcomes. The aim of this work was to characterize the FF-EVs-miRNA cargo of antral (An) and preovulatory (pO) follicles collected in the breeding (BS) and non-breeding (NBS) seasons, to unravel the molecular causes of the reduced oocyte competence recorded in buffalo during the NBS. In total, 1335 miRNAs (538 known Bos taurus miRNAs, 324 homologous to known miRNAs from other species and 473 new candidate miRNAs) were found. We identified 413 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) (FDR < 0.05) between An and pO groups. A subset of the most significant DE-miRNAs between An and pO groups targets genes which function is related to the lipid and steroid metabolism, response to glucocorticoid and oestradiol stimulus. Comparison between BS and NBS showed 14 and 12 DE-miRNAs in An-FF-EVs and pO-FF-EVs, which regulate IL6 release and cellular adhesion, respectively. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the miRNA cargo of buffalo FF-EVs varies in relation to both follicular development and season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Capra
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, Via Einstein 1, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Michal Andrzej Kosior
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali (DMVPA), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Napoli, Italy
| | - Natascia Cocchia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali (DMVPA), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Napoli, Italy
| | - Barbara Lazzari
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, Via Einstein 1, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Chiara Del Prete
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali (DMVPA), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Napoli, Italy
| | - Valentina Longobardi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali (DMVPA), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Napoli, Italy
| | - Flavia Pizzi
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, Via Einstein 1, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stella
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IBBA CNR, Via Einstein 1, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Roberto Frigerio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche SCITEC-CNR, Milano, Italy
| | - Marina Cretich
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche SCITEC-CNR, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Lange Consiglio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 10, 20133, Lodi, Milano, Italy.
| | - Bianca Gasparrini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali (DMVPA), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Napoli, Italy
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7
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Du X, He X, Liu Q, Liu Q, Di R, Chu M. Identification of photoperiod-induced specific miRNAs in the adrenal glands of Sunite sheep (Ovis aries). Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:888207. [PMID: 35937294 PMCID: PMC9354845 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.888207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In seasonal estrus, it is well known that melatonin-regulated biorhythm plays a key role. Some studies indicate that the adrenal gland plays an important role in reproduction in mammals, but the molecular mechanism is not clear. This study used an artificially controlled light photoperiod model, combined with RNA-seq technology and bioinformatics analysis, to analyze the messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) of ewe (Sunite) adrenal glands under different photoperiod treatments. After identification, the key candidate genes GRHL2, CENPF, FGF16 and SLC25A30 that photoperiod affects reproduction were confirmed. The miRNAs (oar-miR-544-3p, oar-miR-411b-5p, oar-miR-376e-3p, oar-miR-376d, oar-miR-376b-3p, oar-miR-376a-3p) were specifically expressed in the adrenal gland. The candidate mRNA-miRNA pairs (e.g., SLC25A30 coagulated by novel miRNA554, novel miRNA555 and novel miRNA559) may affect seasonal estrus. In summary, we constructed relation network of the mRNAs and miRNAs of sheep adrenal glands using RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, thereby, providing a valuable genetic variation resource for sheep genome research, which will contribute to the study of complex traits in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiuyue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Di
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Mingxing Chu
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8
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Screening of Differentially Expressed Genes and miRNAs in Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland of Sheep under Different Photoperiods. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061091. [PMID: 35741853 PMCID: PMC9222358 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproduction of sheep is affected by many factors such as light, nutrition and genetics. The Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is an important pathway for sheep reproduction, and changes in HPG axis-related gene expression can affect sheep reproduction. In this study, a model of bilateral ovarian removal and estrogen supplementation (OVX + E2) was applied to screen differentially expressed genes and miRNAs under different photoperiods using whole transcriptome sequencing and reveal the regulatory effects of the photoperiod on the upstream tissues of the HPG axis in sheep. Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed in ewe hypothalamus (HYP) and distal pituitary (PD) tissues under short photoperiod 21st day (SP21) and long photoperiod 21st day (LP21). Compared to the short photoperiod, a total of 1813 differential genes (up-regulation 966 and down-regulation 847) and 145 differential miRNAs (up-regulation 73 and down-regulation 72) were identified in the hypothalamus of long photoperiod group. Similarly, 2492 differential genes (up-regulation 1829 and down-regulation 663) and 59 differential miRNAs (up-regulation 49 and down-regulation 10) were identified in the pituitary of long photoperiod group. Subsequently, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the differential genes and target genes of differential miRNA were enriched in GnRH, Wnt, ErbB and circadian rhythm pathways associated with reproduction. Combined with sequence complementation and gene expression correlation analysis, several miRNA-mRNA target combinations (e.g., LHB regulated by novel-414) were obtained. Taken together, these results will help to understand the regulatory effect of the photoperiod on the upstream tissues of HPG in sheep.
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9
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Zhu M, Zhang H, Yang H, Zhao Z, Blair HT, Zhai M, Yu Q, Wu P, Fang C, Xie M. Polymorphisms and association of GRM1, GNAQ, and HCRTR1 genes with seasonal reproduction and litter size in three sheep breeds. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57:532-540. [PMID: 35104000 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Litter size is one of the important economic traits of livestock. Seasonal estrus, ovulation, and lambing of sheep have severely restricted the development of sheep farming in Xinjiang China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms and genetic correlation between GRM1, GNAQ, and HCRTR1 genes and the seasonal reproduction and litter size in three sheep breeds. The DNA mixed pool sequencing and PCR-SSCP methods were used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GRM1, GNAQ, and HCRTR1 genes in seasonal estrus (Kazakh and Chinese Merino [Xinjiang Junken type]) and perennial estrus (Hu) sheep breeds. The association between genetic polymorphism and litter size was also analyzed. The results showed that T945C in exon 2 of GRM1 gene, C589T in exon 2 of HCRTR1 gene and A191G in exon 2 of GNAQ gene were identified by Sanger sequencing, and three genotypes were existed in each SNP sites, which all belonged to the synonymous mutation. GRM1 (CC), GNAQ (GA) and HCRTR1 (TC) were the dominant genotypes of seasonal reproduction and litter size in Kazakh sheep and Chinese Merino sheep, respectively. While, in perennial estrus Hu sheep populations, the dominant genotypes were GRM1 (TC), GNAQ (GA) and HCRTR1 (TC) respectively, and association analysis was also confirmed the results. Above results implied that GRM1, GNAQ and HCRTR1 genes are significantly associated with lambing traits in Kazakh, Chinese Merino and Hu sheep. Among them, locus of GRM1 (T945C), GNAQ (A191G) and HCRTR1 (C589T) might be considered as a potential molecular marker which controls seasonal reproduction and litter size in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832008, China
| | - Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Zongsheng Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hugh T Blair
- Institute Veterinary, Animal & Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Manjun Zhai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Pei Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chenhui Fang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mengting Xie
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
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Winter E, Cisilotto J, Silva AH, Rosolen D, Fabichak AP, Rode MP, Creczynski-Pasa TB. MicroRNAs: Potential biomarkers for reproduction, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic in domestic animals. Res Vet Sci 2021; 142:117-132. [PMID: 34942556 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules involved in a wide range of biological processes through the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Most studies evaluated microRNA expression in human, and despite fewer studies in veterinary medicine, this topic is one of the most exciting areas of modern veterinary medicine. miRNAs showed to be part of the pathogenesis of diseases and reproduction physiology in animals, making them biomarkers candidates. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding miRNAs' role in reproduction and animal diseases, diagnostic and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Winter
- Department of Agriculture, Biodiversity and Forests, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Curitibanos, 89520000, SC, Brazil.
| | - Júlia Cisilotto
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Adny Henrique Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Daiane Rosolen
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Fabichak
- Department of Agriculture, Biodiversity and Forests, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Curitibanos, 89520000, SC, Brazil
| | - Michele Patricia Rode
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Tânia Beatriz Creczynski-Pasa
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacy, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
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11
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Liang C, Han M, Zhou Z, Liu Y, He X, Jiang Y, Ouyang Y, Hong Q, Chu M. Hypothalamic Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Crucial MicroRNAs and mRNAs Affecting Litter Size in Goats. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:747100. [PMID: 34790713 PMCID: PMC8591166 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.747100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus was the coordination center of the endocrine system, which played an important role in goat reproduction. However, the molecular mechanism of hypothalamus regulating litter size in goats was still poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the key functional genes associated with prolificacy by hypothalamus transcriptome analysis of goats. In this research, an integrated analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs)-mRNA was conducted using the hypothalamic tissue of Yunshang black goats in the follicular stage. A total of 72,220 transcripts were detected in RNA-seq. Besides, 1,836 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between high fecundity goats at the follicular phase (FP-HY) and low fecundity goats at the follicular phase (FP-LY). DEGs were significantly enriched in 71 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 8 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. The transcriptome data suggested that DEGs such as BMPR1B, FGFR1, IGF1 and CREB1 are directly or indirectly involved in many processes like hypothalamic gonadal hormone secretion. The miRNA-seq identified 1,837 miRNAs, of which 28 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). These DEMs may affect the nerve cells survival of goat hypothalamic regulating the function of target genes and further affect the hormone secretion activities related to reproduction. They were enriched in prolactin signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway and GnRH signaling pathway, as well as various metabolic pathways. Integrated analysis of DEMs and DEGs showed that 87 DEGs were potential target genes of 28 DEMs. After constructing a miRNA-mRNA pathway network, we identified several mRNA-miRNAs pairs by functional enrichment analysis, which was involved in hypothalamic nerve apoptosis. For example, NTRK3 was co-regulated by Novel-1187 and Novel-566, as well as another target PPP1R13L regulated by Novel-566. These results indicated that these key genes and miRNAs may play an important role in the development of goat hypothalamus and represent candidate targets for further research. This study provides a basis for further explanation of the basic molecular mechanism of hypothalamus, but also provides a new idea for a comprehensive understanding of prolificacy characteristics in Yunshang black goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Miaoceng Han
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
| | - Zuyang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
| | - Yufang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
| | - Yanting Jiang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Yina Ouyang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Qionghua Hong
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
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12
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He X, Tao L, Zhong Y, Di R, Xia Q, Wang X, Guo X, Gan S, Zhang X, Zhang J, Liu Q, Chu M. Photoperiod induced the pituitary differential regulation of lncRNAs and mRNAs related to reproduction in sheep. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10953. [PMID: 33976954 PMCID: PMC8067910 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary is a vital endocrine organ that regulates animal seasonal reproduction by controlling the synthesis and secretion of the hormone. The change of photoperiod is the key factor affecting the function of the pituitary in animals, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we studied the transcriptomic variation in pars distalis (PD) of the pituitary between short photoperiod (SP) and long photoperiod (LP) using RNA sequencing based on the OVX+E2 sheep. 346 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 186 DE-mRNA were found in the PD. Moreover, function annotation analysis indicated that the reproductive hormones and photoperiod response-related pathways including aldosterone synthesis and secretion, insulin secretion, thyroid hormone synthesis, and circadian entrainment were enriched. The interaction analysis of mRNA-lncRNA suggested that MSTRG.240648, MSTRG.85500, MSTRG.32448, and MSTRG.304959 targeted CREB3L1 and DUSP6, which may be involved in the photoperiodic regulation of the PD. These findings provide resources for further study on the seasonal reproductive in ewes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun He
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingjie Zhong
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Di
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofei Guo
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Shangquan Gan
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Xinjiang, China
| | | | - Jinlong Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiuyue Liu
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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The Roles of the miRNAome and Transcriptome in the Ovine Ovary Reveal Poor Efficiency in Juvenile Superovulation. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010239. [PMID: 33477862 PMCID: PMC7832859 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Using the technology of juvenile superovulation, more follicles can be acquired in juvenile animals than in adult animals. However, oocytes derived from the follicles of juvenile animals are usually of poor quality, meaning that they have lower levels of subsequent maturation and embryonic development. In the present study, we used an exogenous hormone treatment to stimulate Hu sheep in order to compare the differences in ovarian superovulation effects and serum hormone secretion in juvenile and adult sheep. Differentially expressed microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) from the ovaries of juvenile and adult Hu sheep were then investigated using high-throughput sequencing technology to reveal the formation mechanism of large numbers of follicles and poor oocyte quality in juvenile ovaries under superovulation treatment. We found that molecules of oar-miR-143 and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), among others, might regulate follicle formation, while oar-miR-485-3p, oar-miR-377-3p, and pentraxin 3 (PTX3), among others, may be associated with oocyte quality. The results will help us to identify miRNAs and mRNAs that could be used to predict ovarian superovulation potential and oocyte quality in the future. Abstract Juvenile superovulation can provide a wealth of oocyte material for embryo production, animal cloning, and genetic modification research, but embryos derived from juvenile oocytes show poor efficiency in subsequent developmental capacity. In order to reveal the formation mechanism of large numbers of follicles and poor oocyte quality in juvenile ovaries under superovulation treatment, differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were characterized and investigated in the ovaries of lambs and adult sheep using high-throughput sequencing technology. The majority of differentially expressed miRNAs (337/358) were upregulated in lamb libraries. The expression levels of mRNAs related to hormone receptors (follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, FSHR; luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor, LHCGR; estrogen receptor 1, ESR1), steroid hormone secretion (cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1, CYP11A1; cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1, CYP17A1; cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1, CYP19A1), and oocyte quality (pentraxin 3, PTX3; BCL2 apoptosis regulator, BCL2; caspase 3, CASP3) were significantly different between the lamb and adult libraries. The miRNA aor-miR-143, which targets FSHR, was highly and differentially expressed, and PTX3 was predicted to be targeted by oar-miR-485-3p and oar-miR-377-3p in the ovine ovary. A considerable number of miRNAs were predicted to inhibit ESR1 expression in lamb ovaries. In conclusion, oar-miR-143 and FSHR molecules, among others, might regulate follicle formation, and oar-miR-485-3p, oar-miR-377-3p, and PTX3, among others, may be associated with oocyte quality. These identified miRNAs and mRNAs will be beneficial for the prediction of ovarian superovulation potential and screening of oocytes.
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14
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Seasonal effects on miRNA and transcriptomic profile of oocytes and follicular cells in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Sci Rep 2020; 10:13557. [PMID: 32782284 PMCID: PMC7419291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70546-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Season clearly influences oocyte competence in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis); however, changes in the oocyte molecular status in relation to season are poorly understood. This study characterizes the microRNA (miRNA) and transcriptomic profiles of oocytes (OOs) and corresponding follicular cells (FCs) from buffalo ovaries collected in the breeding (BS) and non-breeding (NBS) seasons. In the BS, cleavage and blastocyst rates are significantly higher compared to NBS. Thirteen miRNAs and two mRNAs showed differential expression (DE) in FCs between BS and NBS. DE-miRNAs target gene analysis uncovered pathways associated with transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and circadian clock photoperiod. Oocytes cluster in function of season for their miRNA content, showing 13 DE-miRNAs between BS and NBS. Between the two seasons, 22 differentially expressed genes were also observed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of miRNA target genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OOs highlights pathways related to triglyceride and sterol biosynthesis and storage. Co-expression analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs revealed a positive correlation between miR-296-3p and genes related to metabolism and hormone regulation. In conclusion, season significantly affects female fertility in buffalo and impacts on oocyte transcriptomic of genes related to folliculogenesis and acquisition of oocyte competence.
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15
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Li X, Li C, Xu Y, Yao R, Li H, Ni W, Quan R, Zhang M, Liu L, Yu S, Ullah Y, Hu R, Li Y, Guo T, Wang X, Hu S. Analysis of pituitary transcriptomics indicates that lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of sheep estrus. Funct Integr Genomics 2020; 20:563-573. [PMID: 32114660 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-020-00735-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Seasonal estrus is a key factor limiting animal fertility, and understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate animal estrus is important for improving animal fertility. The pituitary gland, which is the most important endocrine gland in mammals, plays an important role in regulating the physiological processes such as growth, development, and reproduction of animals. Here, we used RNA-seq technology to study the expression profile of lncRNAs in the anterior pituitary of sheep during estrus and anestrus. In this study, we identified a total of 995 lncRNAs, of which 335 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in two states (including 38 up-regulated and 297 down-regulated lncRNAs). RT-qPCR verified the expression levels of several lncRNAs. Target predictive analysis revealed that these lncRNAs can act in cis or trans and regulate the expression of genes involved in the regulation of sheep estrus. Target gene enrichment analysis of differentially expressed lncRNAs indicates that these lncRNAs can regulate sheep estrus by regulating hormone metabolism and energy metabolism. Through our research, we provide the expression profile of lncRNAs in the pituitary of sheep, which provides a valuable resource for further understanding of the genetic regulation of seasonal estrus in sheep from the perspective of lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Cunyuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yueren Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Rui Yao
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Huixiang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Wei Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Renzhe Quan
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mengdan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Li Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shuting Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yaseen Ullah
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ruirui Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yaxin Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Tao Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiaokui Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
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16
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Ullah Y, Li C, Li X, Ni W, Yao R, Xu Y, Quan R, Li H, Zhang M, Liu L, Hu R, Guo T, Li Y, Wang X, Hu S. Identification and Profiling of Pituitary microRNAs of Sheep during Anestrus and Estrus Stages. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10030402. [PMID: 32121341 PMCID: PMC7142988 DOI: 10.3390/ani10030402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs, molecules of 21 to 25 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression by binding to their target mRNA and play a significant role in animal development. The expression and role of miRNAs in regulating sheep estrus, however, remain elusive. Transcriptome analysis is helpful to understand the biological roles of miRNAs in the pituitary gland of sheep. A sheep's pituitary gland has a significant difference between estrus and anestrus states. Here, we investigate the expression profiles of sheep anterior pituitary microRNAs (miRNAs) in two states, estrus and anestrus, using Illumina HiSeq-technology. This study identified a total of 199 miRNAs and 25 differentially expressed miRNAs in the estrus and anestrus pituitary gland in sheep. Reverse transcription quantitative-PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis shows six differentially (p < 0.05) expressed miRNAs, that are miR-143, miR-199a, miR-181a, miR-200a, miR-218, and miR-221 in both estrus and anestrus states. miRNAs containing estrus-related terms and pathways regulation are enriched using enrichment analysis from gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Moreover, we also envisioned a miRNA-mRNA interaction network to understand the function of miRNAs involved in the pituitary gland regulatory network. In conclusion, miRNA expression profiles in sheep pituitary gland in the anestrus and estrus deliver a theoretical basis for the study of pituitary gland biology in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaseen Ullah
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Cunyuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
| | - Xiaoyue Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Wei Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
- Correspondence: (W.N.); (S.H.); Tel.: +86-18040835399 (W.N.); +86-18199688693 (S.H.)
| | - Rui Yao
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Yueren Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Renzhe Quan
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Huixiang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Mengdan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Li Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Ruirui Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Tao Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Yaxin Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiaokui Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; (Y.U.); (C.L.); (X.L.); (R.Y.); (Y.X.); (R.Q.); (H.L.); (M.Z.); (L.L.); (R.H.); (T.G.); (Y.L.); (X.W.)
- Correspondence: (W.N.); (S.H.); Tel.: +86-18040835399 (W.N.); +86-18199688693 (S.H.)
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17
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Zhang Z, Tang J, Di R, Liu Q, Wang X, Gan S, Zhang X, Zhang J, Chu M, Hu W. Integrated Hypothalamic Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Reproductive Roles of mRNAs and miRNAs in Sheep. Front Genet 2020; 10:1296. [PMID: 32010181 PMCID: PMC6974689 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Early studies have provided a wealth of information on the functions of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, less is known regarding their functions in the hypothalamus involved in sheep reproduction. To explore the potential roles of hypothalamic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and miRNAs in sheep without FecB mutation, in total, 172 and 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 42 and 79 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were identified in polytocous sheep in the follicular phase versus monotocous sheep in the follicular phase (PF vs. MF) and polytocous sheep in the luteal phase versus monotocous sheep in the luteal phase (PL vs. ML), respectively, using RNA sequencing. We also identified several key mRNAs (e.g., POMC, GNRH1, PRL, GH, TRH, and TTR) and mRNA–miRNAs pairs (e.g., TRH co-regulated by oar-miR-379-5p, oar-miR-30b, oar-miR-152, oar-miR-495-3p, oar-miR-143, oar-miR-106b, oar-miR-218a, oar-miR-148a, and PRL regulated by oar-miR-432) through functional enrichment analysis, and the identified mRNAs and miRNAs may function, conceivably, by influencing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) activities and nerve cell survival associated with reproductive hormone release via direct and indirect ways. This study represents an integral analysis between mRNAs and miRNAs in sheep hypothalamus and provides a valuable resource for elucidating sheep prolificacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuangbiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jishun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Di
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shangquan Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | | | - Jinlong Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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18
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Proteomic analysis of sheep uterus reveals its role in prolificacy. J Proteomics 2019; 210:103526. [PMID: 31605788 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Small Tail Han sheep have attracted attention for their high fecundity and year-round estrus. However, the molecular mechanisms of this fecundity are unknown. Polymorphism of the FecB gene has been shown to be associated with the ovulation rate and litter size in sheep. In this study, we used tandem mass tag quantitative proteomic techniques to identify the differentially abundant proteins in polytocous and monotocous Small Tail Han sheep (FecB++) uterine tissues in the follicular and luteal phases. In total, 41 and 43 differentially abundant proteins were identified in the follicular and luteal phases, respectively. Correlation analysis between the transcriptome and proteome revealed a positive correlation at the two omics levels of prolificacy. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that the mRNAs and proteins upregulated in the polytocous group relative to the monotocous group are involved in sphingolipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism, and may be important in maintaining uterine functions and increasing the embryo survival rate during the estrus cycle of polytocous sheep. In conclusion, our work provides a prospective understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the high prolificacy of Small Tail Han sheep. SIGNIFICANCE: Fecundity critically affects the profitability of sheep production, but the genetic mechanism of high-prolificacy is still unclear in sheep. We identified potential signaling pathways and differentially abundant proteins associated with reproductive performance through a combination of sheep uterus tissues proteome and transcriptome analyses. These findings will facilitate a better revealing the mechanism and provide possible targets for molecular design breeding for the formation of polytocous traits in sheep.
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Ludwig N, Hecksteden A, Kahraman M, Fehlmann T, Laufer T, Kern F, Meyer T, Meese E, Keller A, Backes C. Spring is in the air: seasonal profiles indicate vernal change of miRNA activity. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1034-1043. [PMID: 31035857 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1612217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The envisioned application of miRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers calls for an in-depth understanding of their distribution and variability in different physiological states. While effects with respect to ethnic origin, age, or gender are known, the inter-individual variability of miRNAs across the four seasons remained largely hidden. We sequentially profiled the complete repertoire of blood-borne miRNAs for 25 physiologically normal individuals in spring, summer, fall, and winter (altogether 95 samples) and validated the results on 292 individuals (919 samples collected with the Mitra home sampling device) by RT-qPCR. Principal variance component analysis suggests that the largest variability observed in miRNA expression is due to individual variability and the individuals' gender. But the results also highlight a deviation of miRNA activity in samples collected during spring time. Following adjustment for multiple testing, remarkable differences are observed between spring and fall (77 miRNAs). The two most dys-regulated miRNAs were miR-181c-5p and miR-106b-5p (adjusted p-value of 0.007). Other significant miRNAs include miR-140-3p, miR-21-3p, and let-7c-5p. The dys-regulation was validated by RT-qPCR. Systems biology analysis further provides strong evidence for the immunological origin of the signals: dys-regulated miRNAs are enriched in CD56 cells and belong to various signalling and immune-system-related pathways. Our data suggest that besides known confounding factors such as age and sex, also the season in which a test is conducted might have a considerable influence on the expression of blood-borne miRNAs and subsequently might interfere with diagnosis based on such signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Ludwig
- a Department of Human Genetics , Saarland University Hospital , Homburg , Germany.,b Center for Human and Molecular Biology , Saarland University , Homburg , Germany
| | - Anne Hecksteden
- c Department of Sports Medicine , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Mustafa Kahraman
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany.,e Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Tobias Fehlmann
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Thomas Laufer
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany.,e Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Fabian Kern
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Tim Meyer
- c Department of Sports Medicine , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- a Department of Human Genetics , Saarland University Hospital , Homburg , Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Christina Backes
- d Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics , Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
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Li X, Li C, Wei J, Ni W, Xu Y, Yao R, Zhang M, Li H, Liu L, Dang H, Hazi W, Hu S. Comprehensive Expression Profiling Analysis of Pituitary Indicates that circRNA Participates in the Regulation of Sheep Estrus. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10020090. [PMID: 30696117 PMCID: PMC6409929 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The pituitary gland is the most important endocrine organ that mainly regulates animal estrus by controlling the hormones synthesis. There is a significant difference between the estrus state and anestrus state of sheep pituitary system. Here, we studied the circular RNA (circRNA) expression profiles of the anterior pituitary of estrus and anestrus sheep using RNA-seq technology. Through this study, we identified a total of 12,468 circRNAs and 9231 differentially expressed circRNAs in the estrus and anestrus pituitary system of sheep. We analyzed some differentially expressed circRNAs by reverse transcription quantitative-PCR (RT-qPCR), and some circRNAs were demonstrated using RNase-R+ resistance experiments. CircRNAs involving the regulation of estrus-related terms and pathways are enriched by using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. In addition, we also predicted partial microRNA-circRNA interaction network for circRNAs that regulate sheep estrus. Overall, this study explored a potential substantial role played by circRNAs involved in pituitary regulation on sheep estrus and proposed new questions for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Cunyuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Junchang Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Wei Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Yueren Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Rui Yao
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Mengdan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Huixiang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Li Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Hanli Dang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Wureli Hazi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832003, China.
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Gasparrini B. Effects of reproductive season on embryo development in the buffalo. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:68-81. [PMID: 32188543 DOI: 10.1071/rd18315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Interest in buffalo farming is increasing worldwide due to the critical role played by buffaloes as sources of animal protein in tropical and subtropical environments. However, reproductive seasonality negatively affects the profitability of buffalo farming. Buffaloes tend to be short-day breeders, with seasonality patterns increasing with greater distances from the Equator. Although ovarian cyclic activity may occur throughout the year, seasonal anoestrus and cycles in calving and milk production are recorded. When buffaloes are forced to mate during the unfavourable season, to meet market demand, they may undergo a higher incidence of embryo mortality. This review addresses the effects of the reproductive season on embryo development in the buffalo, analysing the different factors involved in determining embryo mortality during the unfavourable season, such as impaired luteal function, oocyte competence and sperm quality. The review then focuses on strategies to control the photoperiod-dependent annual fluctuations in conception and embryo mortality in the female buffalo.
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