Dataset Information

Integrated transcriptomic analysis on small yellow follicles reveals that sosondowah ankyrin repeat domain family member A inhibits chicken follicle selection.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Follicle selection is an important process in chicken egg laying. Among several small yellow (SY) follicles, the one exhibiting the highest expression of follicle stimulation hormone receptor (FSHR) will be selected to become a hierarchal follicle. The role of lncRNA, miRNA and other non-coding RNA in chicken follicle selection is unclear.

Methods

In this study, the whole transcriptome sequencing of SY follicles with different expression levels of FSHR in Jining Bairi hens was performed, and the expression of 30 randomly selected mRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Preliminary studies and bioinformatics analysis were performed on the selected mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA and their target genes. The effect of identified gene was examined in the granulosa cells of chicken follicles.

Results

Integrated transcriptomic analysis on chicken SY follicles differing in FSHR expression revealed 467 differentially expressed mRNA genes, 134 differentially expressed lncRNA genes and 34 differentially expressed miRNA genes, and sosondowah ankyrin repeat domain family member A (SOWAHA) was the common target gene of three miRNAs and one lncRNA. SOWAHA was mainly expressed in small white (SW) and SY follicles and was affected by follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) treatment in the granulosa cells. Knockdown of SOWAHA inhibited the expression of Wnt family member 4 (Wnt4) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the granulosa cells of prehierarchal follicles, while stimulated Wnt4 in hierarchal follicles. Overexpression of SOWAHA increased the expression of Wnt4 in the granulosa cells of prehierarchal follicles, decreased that of StAR and cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 in the granulosa cells of hierarchal follicles and inhibited the proliferation of granulosa cells.

Conclusion

Integrated analysis of chicken SY follicle transcriptomes identified SOWAHA as a network gene that is affected by FSH in granulosa cells of ovarian follicles. SOWAHA affected the expression of genes involved in chicken follicle selection and inhibited the proliferation of granulosa cells, suggesting an inhibitory role in chicken follicle selection.

SUBMITTER: Zhong C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8255886 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Ovarian follicle selection is an important process impacting the laying performance and fecundity of hens, and is regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) through binding to its receptor [follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)]. In laying hens, the small yellow follicle (6-8 mm in diameter) with the highest expression of FSHR will be recruited into the preovulatory hierarchy during ovarian follicle development. The study of molecular mechanism of chicken follicle selection is helpful for the identification of genes underlying egg-laying traits in chicken and other poultry species. Herein, the transcriptomes of chicken small yellow follicles differing in the mRNA expression of FSHR were compared, and a total of 17,993 genes were identified in 3 pairs of small yellow follicles. The Wnt signaling pathway was significantly enriched in the follicles with the greatest fold change in FSHR expression. In this pathway, the expression level of Wnt4 mRNA was significantly upregulated with a log2(fold change) of 2.12. We further investigated the expression, function, and regulation of Wnt4 during chicken follicle selection and found that Wnt4 mRNA reached its peak in small yellow follicles; Wnt4 stimulated the proliferation of follicular granulosa cells (GCs), increased the expression of StAR and CYP11A1 mRNA in prehierarchical and hierarchical follicles, increased the expression of FSHR mRNA, and decreased the expression of anti-Müllerian hormone and OCLN mRNA. Treatment with FSH significantly increased Wnt4 expression in GCs. Moreover, Wnt4 facilitated the effects of FSH on the production of progesterone (P4) and the mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzyme genes in the GCs of hierarchical follicles, but inhibited the effects of FSH in the GCs of prehierarchical follicles. Collectively, these data suggest that Wnt4 plays an important role in chicken follicle selection by stimulating GC proliferation and steroidogenesis. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving the egg-laying performance of chicken and a reference for the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of follicular selection in mammals.