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Loureiro B, Ereno RL, Pupulim AGR, Tramontana MCVB, Tabosa HP, Barros CM, Favoreto MG. Genome-wide association study of Nelore and Angus heifers with low and high ovarian follicle counts. Anim Reprod 2024; 21:e20230110. [PMID: 38384724 PMCID: PMC10878542 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2023-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of antral follicles is considered an important fertility trait because animals with a high follicle count (HFC) produce more oocytes and embryos per cycle. Identification of these animals by genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can accelerate selection of future generations. The aim of this study was to perform a genome wide association study (GWAS) on Nelore and Angus heifers with HFC and low (LFC) antral follicle counts. The groups HFC and LFC for genotyping were formed based on the average of total follicles (≥ 3 mm) counted in each breed consistently ± standard deviation. A total of 72 Nelore heifers (32 HFC and 40 LFC) and 48 Angus heifers (21 HFC and 27 LFC) were selected and the DNA was extracted from blood and hair bulb. Genotyping was done using the Illumina Bovine HD 770K BeadChip. The GWAS analysis showed 181 and 201 SNPs with genotype/phenotype association (P ≤ 0.01) in Nelore and Angus heifers, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on candidate genes that were associated with SNPs. A total of 97 genes were associated to the 181 SNPs in the Nelore heifers and the functional analysis identified genes (ROBO1 and SLIT3) in the ROBO-SLIT pathway that can be involved in the control of germ cell migration in the ovary as it is involved in lutheal cell migration and fetal ovary development. In the Angus heifers, 57 genes were associated with the 201 SNPs, highlighting Fribilin 1 (FBN1) gene, involved in regulation of growth factors directly involved in follicle activation and development. In summary, GWAS for Nelore and Angus heifers showed SNPs associated with higher follicle count phenotype. Furthermore, these findings offer valuable insights for the further investigation of potential mechanism involved in follicle formation and development, important for breeding programs for both breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Loureiro
- Laboratório de Fisiologia da Reprodução Animal, Universidade Vila Velha - UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brasil
| | - Ronaldo Luiz Ereno
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | - Henrique Passos Tabosa
- Laboratório de Fisiologia da Reprodução Animal, Universidade Vila Velha - UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brasil
| | - Ciro Moraes Barros
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Maurício Gomes Favoreto
- Laboratório de Fisiologia da Reprodução Animal, Universidade Vila Velha - UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brasil
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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Xie W, Zhao X, Guo L, Han Y, Yuan Z, Zhang H, Weng Q. Seasonal expressions of ERα, ERβ, EGF, EGFR, PI3K and Akt in the scent glands of the muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 213:105961. [PMID: 34391939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important autocrine and/or paracrine mediator of steroid hormones to stimulate growth and differentiation in mammals. The aim of this study is to investigate seasonal expressions of estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), EGF, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) in the scent glands of the muskrats during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Histologically, three types of cells including the glandular cells, interstitial cells and epithelial cells were identified in the scent glands in both seasons. Immunohistochemical results showed that ERα, ERβ, EGF, EGFR, PI3K and Akt were presented in the different types of cells of the scent glands during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Transcriptome data of the scent glandular tissues from muskrats in the breeding and non-breeding seasons showed that differential seasonal changes might be related to the estrogen-EGFR signaling pathway. The gene expression levels of ERα, ERβ, EGF, EGFR, PI3K were increased, while the gene expression level of Akt were decreased in the breeding season than those in the non-breeding season. Besides, the concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) in the serum and the scent glandular tissues were remarkably higher in the breeding season than those of the non-breeding season. Taken together, our results suggested that EGFR signaling pathway may coordinate with ERs signaling to regulate the seasonal changes of the scent glandular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian Xie
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Guo
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Han
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengrong Yuan
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qiang Weng
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
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Zhou D, Fan J, Liu Z, Tang R, Wang X, Bo H, Zhu F, Zhao X, Huang Z, Xing L, Tao K, Zhang H, Nie H, Zhang H, Zhu W, He Z, Fan L. TCF3 Regulates the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Spermatogonial Stem Cells by Targeting PODXL. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:695545. [PMID: 34422820 PMCID: PMC8377737 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.695545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the initial cells for the spermatogenesis. Although much progress has been made on uncovering a number of modulators for the SSC fate decisions in rodents, the genes mediating human SSCs remain largely unclear. Here we report, for the first time, that TCF3, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcriptional modulator proteins, can stimulate proliferation and suppress the apoptosis of human SSCs through targeting podocalyxin-like protein (PODXL). TCF3 was expressed primarily in GFRA1-positive spermatogonia, and EGF (epidermal growth factor) elevated TCF3 expression level. Notably, TCF3 enhanced the growth and DNA synthesis of human SSCs, whereas it repressed the apoptosis of human SSCs. RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that TCF3 protein regulated the transcription of several genes, including WNT2B, TGFB3, CCN4, MEGF6, and PODXL, while PODXL silencing compromised the stem cell activity of SSCs. Moreover, the level of TCF3 protein was remarkably lower in patients with spermatogenesis failure when compared to individuals with obstructive azoospermia with normal spermatogenesis. Collectively, these results implicate that TCF3 modulates human SSC proliferation and apoptosis through PODXL. This study is of great significance since it would provide a novel molecular mechanism underlying the fate determinations of human SSCs and it could offer new targets for gene therapy of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Zhou
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.,College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingyu Fan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Zhizhong Liu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Urology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Ruiling Tang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Xingming Wang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Bo
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Fang Zhu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Xueheng Zhao
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Zenghui Huang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Liu Xing
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Ke Tao
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.,The Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Hongchuan Nie
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Wenbing Zhu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Zuping He
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Liqing Fan
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
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