Pineal gland transcriptomic profiling reveals the differential regulation of lncRNA and mRNA related to prolificacy in STH sheep with two FecB genotypes

Abstract

Background Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been identified as important regulator in hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis associated with sheep prolificacy. However, little is known of their expression pattern and potential roles in the pineal gland of sheep. Herein, RNA-Seq was used to detect transcriptome expression pattern in pineal gland between follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP) in FecBBB (MM) and FecB++ (ww) STH sheep, respectively, and differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with reproduction were identified. Results Overall, 135 DE lncRNAs and 1360 DE mRNAs in pineal gland between MM and ww sheep were screened. Wherein, 39 DE lncRNAs and 764 DE mRNAs were identified (FP vs LP) in MM sheep, 96 DE lncRNAs and 596 DE mRNAs were identified (FP vs LP) in ww sheep. Moreover, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the targets of DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were annotated to multiple biological processes such as phototransduction, circadian rhythm, melanogenesis, GSH metabolism and steroid biosynthesis, which directly or indirectly participate in hormone activities to affect sheep reproductive performance. Additionally, co-expression of lncRNAs-mRNAs and the network construction were performed based on correlation analysis, DE lncRNAs can modulate target genes involved in related pathways to affect sheep fecundity. Specifically, XLOC_466330, XLOC_532771, XLOC_028449 targeting RRM2B and GSTK1, XLOC_391199 targeting STMN1, XLOC_503926 targeting RAG2, XLOC_187711 targeting DLG4 were included. Conclusion All of these differential lncRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles in pineal gland provide a novel resource for elucidating regulatory mechanism underlying STH sheep prolificacy.

Comparative proteomics of ovaries elucidated the potential targets related to ovine prolificacy

“…Ovulation rate (the number of corpus luteum) was detected by the laparoscopy procedure after 7 days from the CIDR removal (luteal phase), which is a key index determining sheep prolificacy. Then, the estrus synchronization mentioned above was performed again after 45 h from the CIDR removal, and ovaries with follicle diameter ≥ 3.5 mm were obtained (follicular phase) ( 12 , 29 ). The 12 ewes were divided into four groups, including polytocous ewes in the follicular phase (PF, n = 3), polytocous ewes in the luteal phase (PL, n = 3), monotocous ewes in the follicular phase (MF, n = 3), and monotocous ewes in the luteal phase (ML, n = 3).…”

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Hu Sheep Pituitary Gland Prolificacy at the Follicular and Luteal Phases

“…For example, Danila Cuomo et al [ 19 ] screened 636 lncRNAs that were mainly enriched with PI3K-Akt and TGF-β signaling pathways, which were closely related to the regulation of follicle development and steroid-hormone biosynthesis. Chunyan Li et al [ 20 ] identified six lncRNAs in the sheep pineal gland between the follicular phase and luteal phase, which could participate in hormone activities to affect sheep reproductive performance via regulation of its target genes. Yang et al [ 9 ] identified some lncRNAs, and their target genes were enriched with male-gonad-development signaling pathways.…”