Characterization of primordial germ cells from EG&K stage X chicken embryos.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) derived from Eyal-Giladi and Kochav (EG&K) stage X embryos (XPGCs) represent the earliest germ cells in poultry. However, little is known about the XPGCs due the difficulty in the isolation and propagation of these cells. In this study, we report a method for the stable isolation and efficient in vitro propagation of XPGCs.

Multi-omics joint analysis and identification of candidate genes for the rate of right ovarian degeneration in geese.

Avian species exhibit a notable asymmetry in their reproductive systems, with the left ovary maturing into a functional organ and the right ovary degenerating. This asymmetry is widespread across bird species, yet the molecular underpinnings of right ovarian degeneration are not fully understood. In this study, we constructed a cellular atlas of the degenerating right ovary in geese through single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq), revealing distinct cellular compositions and gene expression profiles.

Spatiotemporal single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the role of steroid hormone pathway during chicken primordial follicle formation.

The size of the initial primordial follicle pool in the ovary depends on primordial follicle formation, which determines the female reproductive lifespan. However, the molecular regulation of primordial follicle formation in chickens remains unclear. In this study, the left ovaries of chickens were collected at 2 d posthatch (dph), 5.

Estrogen Receptor Gene 1 () Mediates Lipid Metabolism in Goose Hierarchical Granulosa Cells Rather than in Pre-Hierarchical Granulosa Cells.

(1) Background: The role of estrogen receptor gene 1 () in female reproduction and lipid metabolism has been extensively investigated. However, its contribution to lipid metabolism during the development of poultry follicles remains unclear. (2) Methods: This study aimed to explore the function of via overexpressing () and interfering () with its expression in pre-hierarchical granulosa cells (phGCs) and hierarchical granulosa cells (poGCs).

Exploring right ovary degeneration in duck and goose embryos by histology and transcriptome dynamics analysis.

Background: The development of asymmetric chick gonads involves separate developmental programs in the left and right gonads. In contrast to the left ovary developing into a fully functional reproductive organ, the right ovary undergoes gradual degeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the the degeneration of the right ovary remain incompletely understood.

Regulates Geese Follicular Selection by Targeting to Regulate Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis.

The regulation of granulosa cells (GCs) proliferation and apoptosis is the key step in follicular selection which determines the egg production performance of poultry. has been reported to be involved in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of mammalian ovarian GCs. However, its role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of goose GCs is still unknown.

miR-202-5p Inhibits Lipid Metabolism and Steroidogenesis of Goose Hierarchical Granulosa Cells by Targeting ACSL3.

miRNAs are critical for steroidogenesis in granulosa cells (GCs) during ovarian follicular development. We have previously shown that miR-202-5p displays a stage-dependent expression pattern in GCs from goose follicles of different sizes, suggesting that this miRNA could be involved in the regulation of the functions of goose GCs; therefore, in this study, the effects of miR-202-5p on lipid metabolism and steroidogenesis in goose hierarchical follicular GCs (hGCs), as well as its mechanisms of action, were evaluated. Oil Red O staining and analyses of intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride contents showed that the overexpression of miR-202-5p significantly inhibited lipid deposition in hGCs; additionally, miR-202-5p significantly inhibited progesterone secretion in hGCs.

Mechanism of Participation in Lipid Droplet-Mediated Steroidogenesis in Goose Granulosa Cells.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) production. There may be a mechanism by which SCD is involved in lipid metabolism, which is assumed to be essential for goose follicular development. For this reason, a cellular model of SCD function in goose granulosa cells (GCs) via SCD overexpression and knockdown was used to determine the role of SCD in GC proliferation using flow cytometry.

Integrated mRNA and miRNA transcriptome analysis provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying goose pituitary development during the embryo-to-hatchling transition.

It is well established that the endocrine system plays a pivotal role in preparing the avian embryos for the abrupt switch from chorioallantoic to pulmonary respiration during the critical embryo-to-hatchling transition. However, as the master gland of the endocrine system, there has been little research focusing on the molecular mechanisms controlling the development and function of the pituitary gland during the peri-hatch period in birds. In the present study, we aimed to determine the genome-wide mRNA and miRNA transcriptome profiles of the pituitary during the embryo-to-hatchling transition period from embryonic day 22 (E22) to post-hatching day 6 (P6) in the goose (Anser cygnoides).

Lipidomics profiling of goose granulosa cell model of stearoyl-CoA desaturase function identifies a pattern of lipid droplets associated with follicle development.

Background: Despite their important functions and nearly ubiquitous presence in cells, an understanding of the biology of intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) in goose follicle development remains limited. An integrated study of lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses was performed in a cellular model of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) function, to determine the effects of intracellular LDs on follicle development in geese.

Results: Numerous internalized LDs, which were generally spherical in shape, were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm of granulosa cells (GCs), as determined using confocal microscopy analysis, with altered SCD expression affecting LD content.

Comparative Analysis of Testicular Histology and lncRNA-mRNA Expression Patterns Between Landes Geese () and Sichuan White Geese ().

Landes geese and Sichuan White geese are two important genetic materials for commercial goose breeding. However, the differences in the male reproductive capacity between these two breeds and the potential molecular mechanisms and associated key genes have not been reported to date. The present study compared the testicular histology and mRNA-long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression patterns to reveal the differences in male reproductive performance between Sichuan White geese and Landes geese, as well as to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The immune and metabolic changes with age in giant panda blood by combined transcriptome and DNA methylation analysis.

Giant panda () is an endangered mammalian species. Exploring immune and metabolic changes that occur in giant pandas with age is important for their protection. In this study, we systematically investigated the physiological and biochemical indicators in blood, as well as the transcriptome, and methylation profiles of young, adult, and old giant pandas.

Paternal weight of ducks may have an influence on offspring' small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms.

Background: In animals, many factors affect the small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms, including body weight and genetic background. However, whether paternal weight impacts the small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms remains unknown to date. The current study used Nonghua sheldrake to estimate the effect of paternal weight on the intestine of the offspring by evaluating differences in small intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, and cecal microorganisms between the offspring of male parents with high body weight (group H) and that of male parents with low body weight (group L).

miR-26a is Involved in Glycometabolism and Affects Boar Sperm Viability by Targeting .

miR-26a is associated with sperm metabolism and can affect sperm motility and apoptosis. However, how miR-26a affects sperm motility remains largely unknown. Our previous study indicated that the gene is predicted to be a potential target of miR-26a, which is responsible for pyruvate oxidative decarboxylation which is considered as a key step for connecting glycolysis with oxidative phosphorylation.

Comparative Analysis of MicroRNA and mRNA Profiles of Sperm with Different Freeze Tolerance Capacities in Boar () and Giant Panda ().

Post-thawed sperm quality parameters vary across different species after cryopreservation. To date, the molecular mechanism of sperm cryoinjury, freeze-tolerance and other influential factors are largely unknown. In this study, significantly dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs in boar and giant panda sperm with different cryo-resistance capacity were evaluated.

Exploration of miRNA and mRNA Profiles in Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Boar Sperm by Transcriptome and Small RNA Sequencing.

Due to lower farrowing rate and reduced litter size with frozen-thawed semen, over 90% of artificial insemination (AI) is conducted using liquid stored boar semen. Although substantial progress has been made towards optimizing the cryopreservation protocols for boar sperm, the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms related to cryoinjury and freeze tolerance of boar sperm remain largely unknown. In this study, we report the differential expression of mRNAs and miRNAs between fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm using high-throughput RNA sequencing.

High throughput small RNA and transcriptome sequencing reveal capacitation-related microRNAs and mRNA in boar sperm.

Background: Capacitation, a prerequisite for oocyte fertilization, is a complex process involving series of structural and functional changes in sperms such as membrane modifications, modulation of enzyme activities, and protein phosphorylation. In order to penetrate and fertilize an oocyte, mammalian sperms must undergo capacitation. Nevertheless, the process of sperm capacitation remains poorly understood and requires further elucidation.

Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals the Differentially Expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs Involved in Cryoinjuries in Frozen-Thawed Giant Panda () Sperm.

Sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination are important methods for giant panda breeding and preservation of extant genetic diversity. Lower conception rates limit the use of artificial insemination with frozen-thawed giant panda sperm, due to the lack of understanding of the cryodamaging or cryoinjuring mechanisms in cryopreservation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in regulating spermatogenesis.

Polymorphisms in the Egl nine homolog 3 (EGLN3) and Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) genes and their correlation with hypoxia adaptation in Tibetan chickens.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) and Egl nine homolog 3 (EGLN3) play critical roles in facilitating the adaptation to a hypoxic environment. However, the relationship between EGLN3 and PPARα variants and hypoxic adaptation remains poorly understood in Tibetan chickens. To better understand the effects of genetic variation, we sequenced exons of PPARα and EGLN3 in 138 Lowland chickens (LC) from 7 breeds that were located in Emei, Miyi, Shimian, Wanyuan, Pengxian, and Muchuan in the Sichuan province, and Wenchang in the Hainan province (altitudes for these locations are below 1800 meters).