Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals potential testosterone function-related regulatory genes/pathways of Leydig cells in immature and mature buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) testes

Study on lactation performance and development of KASP marker for milk traits in Xinjiang donkey (Equus asinus)

Donkey milk has high nutritional and medicinal value, but there are few researches in donkey milk traits, especially on genome. The whole lactation of 89 donkeys was recorded and it was found that Xinjiang donkey had good lactation performance while great differences among individuals. In our previous study, four genes including LGALS2, NUMB, ADCY8 and CA8 were identified as milk-associated with Chinese Kazakh house, based on Equine 670k Chip genomic analysis. And then 15 SNPs of the four key genes were conducted for genotyping in Xinjiang donkey in this study, one of Chinese indigenous breed, 14 SNPs were successful classified. And those SNPs were correlation analysis with milk yield of Xinjiang donkeys. The results showed that NUMB g.46709914T > G was significantly correlated with daily milk yield of Xinjiang donkey in the early, middle, and late periods, while ADCY8 g.48366302T > C, CA8 g.89567442T > G and CA8 g.89598328T > A were significantly correlated with lactation in the late periods. These results indicate that NUMB g.46709914T > G can be as markers of candidate genes for lactating traits in donkeys, SNPs of ADCY8 and CA8 as potential. Our findings will not only help confirm key genes for donkey milk traits, but also provide future for genomic selection in donkeys.

Effect of arginine-induced motility and capacitation on RNA population in goat spermatozoa

INTRODUCTION

In vitro capacitation is essential in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for embryo production. Recently, arginine has been proven to enhance capacitation in mammalian spermatozoa. However, the detailed mechanism of action of arginine remains elusive.

AIM

This study investigated the effect of arginine-induced capacitation and motility enhancement on the spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) population in goats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Goat spermatozoa were treated with arginine for up to six hours and compared with non-treated or PHE (penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine)-treated spermatozoa at different intervals (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours). Sperm parameters, including viability, individual motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and ROS production, were evaluated. The spRNA population was analyzed by short-read RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

RESULTS

The percentage of capacitated (73.21 ± 4.22%) and acrosome reacted (18.35 ± 0.56%) spermatozoa was highest in arginine treatment, while PHE treatment showed the highest percentage (79.82 ± 4.31%) of motile spermatozoa from 0 to 4 hours of incubation. RNA-seq analysis identified 1,321 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in arginine-treated spermatozoa compared to the control. The PGK2, RNASE10, ODF1, and ROPN1L genes involved in sperm motility and ACR, DKKL1, KCNJ11, and PRND genes involved in the capacitation process were upregulated in arginine-treated spermatozoa. The DEGs regulate sperm capacitation-related cAMP-PKA, PI3-Akt, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

The arginine-induced capacitation and enhanced sperm motility were associated with the upregulation of several genes involved in sperm motility and capacitation pathways. The comparative study also suggests that arginine may be used in lieu of PHE for motility enhancement and in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa.

Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers dynamic roadmap and cell-cell communication during buffalo spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis carries the task of precise intergenerational transmission of genetic information from the paternal genome and involves complex developmental processes regulated by the testicular microenvironment. Studies performed mainly in mouse models have established the theoretical basis for spermatogenesis, yet the wide interspecies differences preclude direct translation of the findings, and farm animal studies are progressing slowly. More than 32,000 cells from prepubertal (3-month-old) and pubertal (24-month-old) buffalo testes were analyzed by using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and dynamic gene expression roadmaps of germ and somatic cell development were generated. In addition to identifying the dynamic processes of sequential cell fate transitions, the global cell-cell communication essential to maintain regular spermatogenesis in the buffalo testicular microenvironment was uncovered. The findings provide the theoretical basis for establishing buffalo germline stem cells in vitro or culturing organoids and facilitating the expansion of superior livestock breeding.