Project description:Expression changes in mRNA expression associated with the effects of nutrition on apoptosis and spermatogenesis in the adult testis
Project description:Todate, the investigation into the molecular mechanisms of testis development and spermatogenesis has largely focused on the role of protein-coding genes and small noncoding RNA including microRNAs and piRNAs. In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play critical regulatory roles in mammalian development. To understand the role of lncRNAs in development of the mammalian testis and spermatogenesis, we firstly utilized commercial microarray to systematically investigate lncRNAs expression profiles of neonatal (6-day-old) and adult (8-week-old) mouse testis. By comparison the lncRNAs expression profiles of two developmental stage of testes, we obtained the differentially expressed lncRNAs and examined their genomic context, promoter characteristics, neighbored protein-coding genes, provide an important foundation for future research on molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis.
Project description:We tested whether the defects in spermatogenesis and increases in germ cell apoptosis that are induced by under-nutrition are associated with changes in mRNA expression and pre-mRNA alternative splicing in the testis. Groups of 8 male sheep were fed for a 10% increase or 10% decrease in body mass over 65 days. We identified 2,243 mRNAs, including TP53 and Claudin 11, that were differentially expressed in testis from underfed and well-fed sheep (FDR < 0.1), and found that their changes in expression were associated with germ cells, testis size, cell cycle and spermatogenesis variations. Furthermore, pairs of 269 mRNAs and 48 miRNAs were indentified based on target prediction and the negative regulatory effect of miRNAs on mRNA expression with functions involved in abnormal reproductive morphology, apoptosis and male infertility. Nutrition did not affect the total number of alternative splicing junctions, but affected 1,040 alternative splicing events (FDR < 0.05, ∆PSI > 10%). A total of 788 genes, including CREM, MAP2, HIPK3 and TRa2β, were differentially spliced between dietary treatments, with functions related to protein localization, cellular metabolic process, post-translational protein modification and spermatogenesis. In addition, three gene modules were positively correlated with spermatogenesis-related phenotypic traits and negatively related to apoptosis-related phenotypic traits. Among these gene modules, seven (CFLAR, PTPRC, F2R, MAP3K1, EPHA7, APP, BCAP31) were also differentially expressed between nutritional treatments, indicating their potential as markers of spermatogenesis or apoptosis. We conclude that under-nutrition causes changes in mRNAs and pre-mRNA alternative splicing that, at least partly, contribute to disrupted spermatogenesis and increased germ cell apoptosis.
Project description:We have completed the high quality reference genome for domestic sheep (Oar v3.1) and performed a detailed survey of gene expression across different tissues. RNA-seq data of 7 tissue types from the reference female Texel and skin tissue from a Gansu alpine fine wool sheep were sequenced.
Project description:This dataset represents genes that are dysregulated in the postnatal day 12 (P12) mouse testis when ATRX is specifically inactivated in Sertoli cells (ScAtrxKO mice). The differentially expressed genes included in the dataset may play important roles in the testicular phenotypes observed in the ScAtrxKO mice, which were first reported in our previous work (Bagheri-Fam et al., 2011). In fetal ScAtrxKO mice, Sertoli cells undergo apoptosis due to cell cycle defects, resulting in smaller testes with reduced tubule volume. Adult ScAtrxKO mice show a wide range of spermatogenesis defects probably due to a failure of the dysfunctional ATRX protein to interact with the androgen receptor (AR). The chromatin remodeling protein ATRX is widely expressed in the human testis including Sertoli cells. In XY individuals, the loss of ATRX leads to ATR-X (alpha thalassemia, mental retardation, X-linked) syndrome associated with a wide range of genital abnormalities such as hypospadias, ambiguous genitalia, and small testes with reduced tubule volume. Our dataset contributes towards understanding the mechanism underlying ATRX regulation of testis development and spermatogenesis.
Project description:The Analysis of Genes that Influence Sheep Follicular Development by Different Nutrition Levels during the Luteal Phase using Expression Profiling
Project description:Identification and Profiling of microRNAs from Hypothalamus of Estrous Kazakh Sheep Induced by High Nutrition Treatment in Non-breeding Season
Project description:Despite increasing efforts in miRNAs identification across various species and diverse tissue types, little is known about porcine gonad-specific miRNAs. Although the well-known importance of pig in agriculture, as well as a model for human biology, the miRNA catalog of pig has been largely undefined. Identification and preliminary characterization of gonad-specific miRNAs would be a prerequisite for a thorough understanding of their roles in regulating folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. In the present study, we get insight into miRNA transcriptome in adult porcine ovary and testis using deep sequencing technology, and to elucidate their characteristic organ- and gender-specific profiles, genomic context and emphasize the features of X-linked miRNAs. Two small RNA libraries from adult porcine ovary and testis tissues were sequenced.