背景:种鸡通过提供高质量的精液,在家禽生产中发挥了关键作用。通常,生育率在30至40周龄之间达到峰值,然后从45至55周龄迅速下降。研究提高衰老公鸡的生育能力对于延长其生产寿命至关重要。虽然取得了进展,提高衰老公鸡的生育能力仍然是一个重大挑战。
方法:为了确定与促进老年厚丹公鸡精子重塑相关的基因,我们将睾丸和精液质量的变化与转录组测序(RNA-seq)相结合,以分析精液质量和睾丸发育的同步性。在这项研究中,选择350日龄的Houdan种鸡公鸡,对诱导蜕皮公鸡(D组)和非诱导蜕皮公鸡(47DG组)的睾丸组织进行RNA-seq分析。进行差异表达基因(DEG)和功能富集的所有分析。最后,我们选择了六个DEGs来验证qPCR测序的准确性。
结果:与47DG组相比,精子活力(P<0.05),精子密度(P<0.01),D组公鸡睾丸重量显著增加(P<0.05)。进一步对D组和47DG组之间的睾丸进行RNA-seq分析,鉴定出61个DEGs,21个上调,40个下调。功能富集分析表明,DEGs主要富集在细胞因子-细胞因子受体相互作用中,Wnt信号通路,MAPK信号通路,TGF-β信号通路,和局灶性粘连途径。qRT-PCR结果显示,这些基因的表达趋势与测序结果一致。WNT5A,FGFR3、AGTR2、TGFβ2、ROMO1和SLC26A7可能在睾丸发育和精子发生中起作用。本研究为提高衰老公鸡的生殖价值提供了基础数据。
BACKGROUND: The breeder rooster has played a pivotal role in poultry production by providing high-quality semen. Typically, fertility peaks between 30 and 40 weeks of age and then declines rapidly from 45 to 55 weeks of age. Research into improving fertility in aging roosters is essential to extend their productive life. While progress has been made, enhancing fertility in aging roosters remains a significant challenge.
METHODS: To identify the genes related to promoting sperm remodeling in aged Houdan roosters, we combined changes in testis and semen quality with transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze the synchrony of semen quality and testis development. In this study, 350-day-old Houdan breeder roosters were selected for RNA-seq analysis in testis tissues from induced
molting roosters (D group) and non-induced
molting roosters (47DG group). All analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional enrichment were performed. Finally, we selected six DEGs to verify the accuracy of the sequencing by qPCR.
RESULTS: Compared with the 47DG group, sperm motility (P < 0.05), sperm density (P < 0.01), and testis weight (P < 0.05) were significantly increased in roosters in the D group. Further RNA-seq analysis of the testis between the D group and 47DG group identified 61 DEGs, with 21 up-regulated and 40 down-regulated. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily enriched in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, and focal adhesion pathway. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression trend of these genes was consistent with the sequencing results. WNT5A, FGFR3, AGTR2, TGFβ2, ROMO1, and SLC26A7 may play a role in testis development and spermatogenesis. This study provides fundamental data to enhance the reproductive value of aging roosters.