Project description:The differences in reproductive processes at the molecular level between viviparous and oviparous animals are evident, and the site in the ovary that synthesizes sex hormones (androgens and oestrogens) and the trends for enriching sex hormones during follicle development in chickens are different from those in mammals, suggesting that the effect of sex hormones on follicle development in chickens is probably different from that in viviparous animals. To explore the specific role of androgen receptors (ARs) on chicken follicular development, we matched the correspondence of follicular development stages among chickens, humans, cows and identified chicken-specific genes related to follicle development (GAL-SPGs) by comparing follicle development-related genes and their biological functions among species (chickens, humans, and cows). A comparison of the core transcription factor regulatory network of granulosa cells (or ovaries) based on super enhancers among species (chicken, human, and mouse) revealed that AR is a core transcriptional regulator specific to chickens. In vivo experiments showed that inhibition of AR significantly reduced the number of syf (selected stage follicles) in chickens and decreased the expression of GAL-SPGs in F5 follicles, while in vitro experiments showed that inhibition of AR expression in chicken granulosa cells (GCs) significantly down-regulated the expression levels of GAL-SPGs, indicating that AR could regulate follicle selection through chicken-specific genes related to follicle development. A comparison among species (77 vertebrates) of the conserved genomic regions, where chicken super-enhancers are located, revealed that the chicken AR super-enhancer region is conserved in birds, suggesting that the role of AR in follicle selection may be widespread in birds. In summary, we found that AR can regulate follicle selection through chicken-specific genes related to follicle development, which also emphasizes the important role of AR in follicle selection in chickens and provides a new perspective for understanding the unique process of follicle development in chickens.
2021-08-16 | GSE182083 | GEO
Project description:studies of circRNA on chicken follicle
Project description:Ovarian follicle selection plays an important role in the reproduction of sexually mature hens, and this process can directly affect the growth and development of follicles until the final ovulation, thus affecting laying performance and fecundity of hens. In the laying hen ovary, one follicle from a cohort of 8-13 follicles of 6-8 mm in diameter is selected daily to enter the preovulatory hierarchy. In this study, we globally compared the proteomes of chicken ovarian follicles before and after follicle selection. A total of 5883 proteins were identified in the proteomes of chicken 6-8 mm prehierarchical follicles and 12-15 mm hierarchical follicles. 259 proteins are differentially expressed in 12-15 mm hierarchical follicle compared with prehierarchical follicle, of which 175 proteins are up-regulated and 84 proteins are down-regulated. The Gene Ontology enrichment of differentially expressed proteins revealed enriched GO terms for peptidase activity, acrosin binding for their molecular function and in the process of negative regulation of peptidase activity, and regulation of fertilization. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated that differentially expressed proteins were enriched for ribosome, lysine degradation, and endocytosis pathways. Nine differentially expressed proteins including vitellogenin-1 were validated with Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM) analysis, and their functions were discussed. This study provided a global proteomic view of the development of chicken ovarian follicles, which will serve as a foundation for understanding the molecular signatures and pathways of follicle selection in hens.
Project description:Ovarian follicle development is a complex and well orchestrated biological process. Chromatin spatial organization has emerged as an important regulator of gene expression, but how these changes during follicle development are still unknown. Here, we integrated RNA-seq analyses of chicken follicular granulosa cells of 10 developmental stages. Our data revealed that SWF, F1, and POF had the greatest transcriptome differences from other stages. Our results provide a genome-wide atlas of chromatin interactions during chicken ovarian follicle development.
Project description:Ovarian follicle development is a complex and well orchestrated biological process. Chromatin spatial organization has emerged as an important regulator of gene expression, but how these changes during follicle development are still unknown. Here, we integrated RNA-seq and Hi-C analyses of chicken follicular granulosa cells of 10 developmental stages. Our data revealed that SWF, F1, and POF had the greatest transcriptome differences from other stages. Our results provide a genome-wide atlas of chromatin interactions during chicken ovarian follicle development.
Project description:The differences of reproductive processes at molecular levels between the viviparous and oviparous animals are still unclear, and in the oviparous animal, the locations to synthetize sex hormones and also the trends to enrich sex hormones during follicle development are different from that of viviparous animals. To explore the commonalities (key factors for follicular development) and individualities (factors that cause differences among species) in the follicular development of viviparous and oviparous animals, we compared the similarities and differences in follicle development between viviparous and oviparous animals in terms of transcriptome and super-enhancer-based transcriptional regulation, using humans, bovines, and mice as representatives of viviparous animals and chickens, for oviparous animals. It was found that follicle development in molecular terms tended to be more conservative between viviparous and oviparous animals. Estrogen receptors and androgen receptors occupied central positions in the transcriptional regulatory networks of viviparous and oviparous animals respectively, which may be related with differences in the synthesis and secretion of sex hormones between oviparous and viviparous animals. The role of androgen receptors in chicken follicle development was verified through cell level and field experiments. Our study would facilitate to extend existing results of follicle development in viviparous animals to oviparous animals, and our results emphasized the importance of the androgen receptor in chicken follicle development. Comparative analysis among different species in follicle development will help us to gain insight on the mechanisms of follicle development.
Project description:we compared the phosphoproteomes of SY and F6 follicles in laying hens and identified several genes involved in chicken follicle selection.
Project description:The differences of reproductive processes at molecular levels between the viviparous and oviparous animals are still unclear, and in the oviparous animal, the locations to synthetize sex hormones and also the trends to enrich sex hormones during follicle development are different from that of viviparous animals. To explore the commonalities (key factors for follicular development) and individualities (factors that cause differences among species) in the follicular development of viviparous and oviparous animals, we compared the similarities and differences in follicle development between viviparous and oviparous animals in terms of transcriptome and super-enhancer-based transcriptional regulation, using humans, bovines, and mice as representatives of viviparous animals and chickens, for oviparous animals. It was found that follicle development in molecular terms tended to be more conservative between viviparous and oviparous animals. Estrogen receptors and androgen receptors occupied central positions in the transcriptional regulatory networks of viviparous and oviparous animals respectively, which may be related with differences in the synthesis and secretion of sex hormones between oviparous and viviparous animals. The role of androgen receptors in chicken follicle development was verified through cell level and field experiments. Our study would facilitate to extend existing results of follicle development in viviparous animals to oviparous animals, and our results emphasized the importance of the androgen receptor in chicken follicle development. Comparative analysis among different species in follicle development will help us to gain insight on the mechanisms of follicle development.
Project description:RNA N6-melthyladenosine has been suggested to play important roles in various biological processes. Chicken ovary development is a process controlled by complex gene regulations. In this study, transcriptome-wide m6A methylation of the Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken ovaries before and after sexual maturation was profiled to identify potential molecular mechanisms underlying chicken ovary development. The results showed that m6A levels of mRNAs changed dramatically during sexual maturity. A total of 1476 differential m6A peaks were found between these two stages with 662 significantly up-regulated methylation peaks and 814 down-regulated methylation peaks after sexual maturation. A positive correlation was found between the m6A peaks and gene expression levels. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that apoptosis related pathways might be the key molecular regulatory pathway underlying the poor reproductive performance of Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken. The fine expressional regulation of genes related to follicles development and follicle atresia controlled by m6A during the maturity results in the poor reproductive performance in the Wuhua yellow-feathered chicken. However, the regulatory mechanisms are still unclear, thus more further studies are required. The pathways and corresponding candidate genes found here may be useful for molecular design breeding for improving egg production performance in Chinese local chicken breed, and it will also benefit for the genetic resource protection of valuable avian species.