Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods

This investigation aimed to use transcriptome analysis to explore the key genes and signaling pathways through which photoperiod impacts reproductive hormone secretion in roosters. 240 forty-two-day-old Chahua No.2 roosters were randomly assigned to four groups: simulated natural light (Ⅰ), 12L:12D...

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Main Authors: Mengqian Liu, Lei Tan, Xinlu Li, Haojie Li, Yong Zhang, Xiannian Zi, Changrong Ge, Kun Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005218
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author Mengqian Liu
Lei Tan
Xinlu Li
Haojie Li
Yong Zhang
Xiannian Zi
Changrong Ge
Kun Wang
author_facet Mengqian Liu
Lei Tan
Xinlu Li
Haojie Li
Yong Zhang
Xiannian Zi
Changrong Ge
Kun Wang
author_sort Mengqian Liu
collection DOAJ
description This investigation aimed to use transcriptome analysis to explore the key genes and signaling pathways through which photoperiod impacts reproductive hormone secretion in roosters. 240 forty-two-day-old Chahua No.2 roosters were randomly assigned to four groups: simulated natural light (Ⅰ), 12L:12D (Ⅱ), 16L:8D (Ⅲ), and 20L:4D (Ⅳ), with 6 replicates per group and 10 roosters in each replicate. Blood samples were collected at 91 days and 140 days after hatching to measure the levels of various reproductive hormones. Subsequently, the two groups with the most significant differences in reproductive hormone levels were chosen for in-depth transcriptomic analysis. Select the two groups with the greatest differences in reproductive hormones for transcriptomic analysis. Results showed that at 90 days of age, the duration of light exposure had no significant effect on the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH (P > 0.05); at 140 days of age, with prolonged exposure to light, the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH in the blood will significantly or extremely significantly increase (P < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis of pituitary tissues identified 467 significantly differentially expressed genes, with 133 genes being significantly downregulated and 334 genes being significantly upregulated. Key signaling pathways identified included calcium signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Transcriptome analysis of hypothalamus tissues identified a total of 1374 significantly differentially expressed genes, of which 693 were significantly downregulated and 681 were significantly upregulated. A significantly enriched neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway was identified. The results indicate that the extension of photoperiod affects the expression of genes such as ATP2A3, ATP2B1, MCU, GnRH-I, TRH in the hypothalamus and pituitary by regulating the calcium signaling pathway and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, thereby regulating the secretion of GnRH, FSH, and LH.
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spelling doaj-art-6f0a8db84e514723884fe35b2eee84bc2025-08-20T03:15:04ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-08-01104810527910.1016/j.psj.2025.105279Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiodsMengqian Liu0Lei Tan1Xinlu Li2Haojie Li3Yong Zhang4Xiannian Zi5Changrong Ge6Kun Wang7College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Gansu 730070, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan 650201, China; Corresponding author.This investigation aimed to use transcriptome analysis to explore the key genes and signaling pathways through which photoperiod impacts reproductive hormone secretion in roosters. 240 forty-two-day-old Chahua No.2 roosters were randomly assigned to four groups: simulated natural light (Ⅰ), 12L:12D (Ⅱ), 16L:8D (Ⅲ), and 20L:4D (Ⅳ), with 6 replicates per group and 10 roosters in each replicate. Blood samples were collected at 91 days and 140 days after hatching to measure the levels of various reproductive hormones. Subsequently, the two groups with the most significant differences in reproductive hormone levels were chosen for in-depth transcriptomic analysis. Select the two groups with the greatest differences in reproductive hormones for transcriptomic analysis. Results showed that at 90 days of age, the duration of light exposure had no significant effect on the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH (P > 0.05); at 140 days of age, with prolonged exposure to light, the levels of GnRH, FSH, and LH in the blood will significantly or extremely significantly increase (P < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis of pituitary tissues identified 467 significantly differentially expressed genes, with 133 genes being significantly downregulated and 334 genes being significantly upregulated. Key signaling pathways identified included calcium signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Transcriptome analysis of hypothalamus tissues identified a total of 1374 significantly differentially expressed genes, of which 693 were significantly downregulated and 681 were significantly upregulated. A significantly enriched neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway was identified. The results indicate that the extension of photoperiod affects the expression of genes such as ATP2A3, ATP2B1, MCU, GnRH-I, TRH in the hypothalamus and pituitary by regulating the calcium signaling pathway and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, thereby regulating the secretion of GnRH, FSH, and LH.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005218PhotoperiodHypothalamusPituitaryReproductive hormonesTranscriptome
spellingShingle Mengqian Liu
Lei Tan
Xinlu Li
Haojie Li
Yong Zhang
Xiannian Zi
Changrong Ge
Kun Wang
Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
Poultry Science
Photoperiod
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Reproductive hormones
Transcriptome
title Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
title_full Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
title_fullStr Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
title_short Analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
title_sort analysis of reproductive hormones and transcriptomics in the hypothalamus and pituitary under different photoperiods
topic Photoperiod
Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Reproductive hormones
Transcriptome
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005218
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