Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function

In pigs, the effect of sex on production and reproductive traits has been largely reported, however, whether sex exerts its influence through regulating mitochondrial function is still unclear. In this study, we constructed 15 male cells and 15 female fibroblasts derived from 35-day and 50-day fetus...

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Main Authors: Hao Liu, Wenshu Shi, Xing Zhang, Xinmiao He, Xingbo Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Animal Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10495398.2025.2488068
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author Hao Liu
Wenshu Shi
Xing Zhang
Xinmiao He
Xingbo Zhao
author_facet Hao Liu
Wenshu Shi
Xing Zhang
Xinmiao He
Xingbo Zhao
author_sort Hao Liu
collection DOAJ
description In pigs, the effect of sex on production and reproductive traits has been largely reported, however, whether sex exerts its influence through regulating mitochondrial function is still unclear. In this study, we constructed 15 male cells and 15 female fibroblasts derived from 35-day and 50-day fetuses, newborn piglets and 1-year-old pigs to identify the sex effect on mitochondrial functions. Results indicated significant differences on cellular and molecular characteristics between male and female cells, including energy metabolic trait, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and transcription, and mRNA expressions of mitochondrial biogenesis genes and mitoprotease genes. Referring to sex, males exhibited significantly higher oxygen consumption rate productions, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mtDNA copy numbers than those with females in muscle and ear fibroblasts. And the expressions of mtDNA, mitochondrial biogenesis genes (POLG, PPARGC1A, TFAM and TWNK) and XPNPEP3 were higher in males than females in ear fibroblasts derived from 1-year-old adult pigs (EFA cells). While, the cell proliferation and expressions of genes related to ROS metabolism were not influenced by sex. The results highlight the effect of sex on mitochondrial function and gene expression, and provide important data for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying sex regulation of energy metabolism-related traits in pigs.
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spelling doaj-art-374e7be5fec74e6799c47c1dd4331d822025-08-20T02:16:33ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnimal Biotechnology1049-53981532-23782025-12-0136110.1080/10495398.2025.2488068Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial functionHao Liu0Wenshu Shi1Xing Zhang2Xinmiao He3Xingbo Zhao4Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaIn pigs, the effect of sex on production and reproductive traits has been largely reported, however, whether sex exerts its influence through regulating mitochondrial function is still unclear. In this study, we constructed 15 male cells and 15 female fibroblasts derived from 35-day and 50-day fetuses, newborn piglets and 1-year-old pigs to identify the sex effect on mitochondrial functions. Results indicated significant differences on cellular and molecular characteristics between male and female cells, including energy metabolic trait, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and transcription, and mRNA expressions of mitochondrial biogenesis genes and mitoprotease genes. Referring to sex, males exhibited significantly higher oxygen consumption rate productions, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mtDNA copy numbers than those with females in muscle and ear fibroblasts. And the expressions of mtDNA, mitochondrial biogenesis genes (POLG, PPARGC1A, TFAM and TWNK) and XPNPEP3 were higher in males than females in ear fibroblasts derived from 1-year-old adult pigs (EFA cells). While, the cell proliferation and expressions of genes related to ROS metabolism were not influenced by sex. The results highlight the effect of sex on mitochondrial function and gene expression, and provide important data for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying sex regulation of energy metabolism-related traits in pigs.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10495398.2025.2488068Sexporcinemitochondrionreactive oxygen speciesoxygen consumption rate
spellingShingle Hao Liu
Wenshu Shi
Xing Zhang
Xinmiao He
Xingbo Zhao
Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
Animal Biotechnology
Sex
porcine
mitochondrion
reactive oxygen species
oxygen consumption rate
title Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
title_full Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
title_fullStr Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
title_full_unstemmed Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
title_short Identifying sex-based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
title_sort identifying sex based disparities in porcine mitochondrial function
topic Sex
porcine
mitochondrion
reactive oxygen species
oxygen consumption rate
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10495398.2025.2488068
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AT xingzhang identifyingsexbaseddisparitiesinporcinemitochondrialfunction
AT xinmiaohe identifyingsexbaseddisparitiesinporcinemitochondrialfunction
AT xingbozhao identifyingsexbaseddisparitiesinporcinemitochondrialfunction