Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats

The hypothalamus (hyp) serves as the regulatory hub of the neuroendocrine system, synthesizing and secreting reproductive hormones that modulate estrus, follicular maturation, and embryonic development in goats. This study employed RNA-seq analysis to examine gene expression in the hypothalamic tiss...

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Main Authors: Yingshi Wei, Caiye Zhu, Xiaoyun He, Mingxing Chu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/754
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author Yingshi Wei
Caiye Zhu
Xiaoyun He
Mingxing Chu
author_facet Yingshi Wei
Caiye Zhu
Xiaoyun He
Mingxing Chu
author_sort Yingshi Wei
collection DOAJ
description The hypothalamus (hyp) serves as the regulatory hub of the neuroendocrine system, synthesizing and secreting reproductive hormones that modulate estrus, follicular maturation, and embryonic development in goats. This study employed RNA-seq analysis to examine gene expression in the hypothalamic tissue of Yunshang black goats during the luteal phase in goats with high fecundity (LP_HY), during the luteal phase in goats with low fecundity (LP_LY), during the follicular phase in goats with high fecundity (FP_HY), and during the follicular phase in goats with low fecundity (FP_LY). Differential long non-coding RNAs (DE lncRNAs) and differential mRNAs (DE mRNAs) were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses and the construction of co-expression networks associated with reproduction. As a result, DE lncRNAs (390, 375, 405, and 394) and DE mRNAs (1836, 2047, 2003, and 1963) were identified in the four comparisons, namely FP_LY vs. FP_HY, LP_HY vs. FP_HY, LP_LY vs. FP_LY, and LP_LY vs. LP_HY, respectively. Functional annotations indicated significant enrichment of numerous DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs in reproduction-related pathways such as the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pathway, the prolactin signaling pathway, the estrogen signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, and progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation. The co-expression network of lncRNAs and target genes identified the interrelationships between reproduction-related genes such as <i>IGF1</i>, <i>PORCN</i>, <i>PLCB2</i>, <i>MAPK8</i>, <i>PRLR</i>, and <i>CPEB2</i> with our newly discovered lncRNAs. This study expands the understanding of lncRNAs and mRNAs in goat hypothalamic tissue and provides new insights into molecular mechanisms related to goat reproduction.
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spelling doaj-art-75e177d0d2b6464fa6b330e4a6077be22025-08-20T02:59:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115575410.3390/ani15050754Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in GoatsYingshi Wei0Caiye Zhu1Xiaoyun He2Mingxing Chu3State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaThe hypothalamus (hyp) serves as the regulatory hub of the neuroendocrine system, synthesizing and secreting reproductive hormones that modulate estrus, follicular maturation, and embryonic development in goats. This study employed RNA-seq analysis to examine gene expression in the hypothalamic tissue of Yunshang black goats during the luteal phase in goats with high fecundity (LP_HY), during the luteal phase in goats with low fecundity (LP_LY), during the follicular phase in goats with high fecundity (FP_HY), and during the follicular phase in goats with low fecundity (FP_LY). Differential long non-coding RNAs (DE lncRNAs) and differential mRNAs (DE mRNAs) were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses and the construction of co-expression networks associated with reproduction. As a result, DE lncRNAs (390, 375, 405, and 394) and DE mRNAs (1836, 2047, 2003, and 1963) were identified in the four comparisons, namely FP_LY vs. FP_HY, LP_HY vs. FP_HY, LP_LY vs. FP_LY, and LP_LY vs. LP_HY, respectively. Functional annotations indicated significant enrichment of numerous DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs in reproduction-related pathways such as the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pathway, the prolactin signaling pathway, the estrogen signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, and progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation. The co-expression network of lncRNAs and target genes identified the interrelationships between reproduction-related genes such as <i>IGF1</i>, <i>PORCN</i>, <i>PLCB2</i>, <i>MAPK8</i>, <i>PRLR</i>, and <i>CPEB2</i> with our newly discovered lncRNAs. This study expands the understanding of lncRNAs and mRNAs in goat hypothalamic tissue and provides new insights into molecular mechanisms related to goat reproduction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/754goathypothalamusfollicular phaseluteal phasehigh fecunditylncRNA
spellingShingle Yingshi Wei
Caiye Zhu
Xiaoyun He
Mingxing Chu
Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
Animals
goat
hypothalamus
follicular phase
luteal phase
high fecundity
lncRNA
title Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
title_full Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
title_fullStr Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
title_full_unstemmed Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
title_short Hypothalamus Transcriptome Reveals Key lncRNAs and mRNAs Associated with Fecundity in Goats
title_sort hypothalamus transcriptome reveals key lncrnas and mrnas associated with fecundity in goats
topic goat
hypothalamus
follicular phase
luteal phase
high fecundity
lncRNA
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/754
work_keys_str_mv AT yingshiwei hypothalamustranscriptomerevealskeylncrnasandmrnasassociatedwithfecundityingoats
AT caiyezhu hypothalamustranscriptomerevealskeylncrnasandmrnasassociatedwithfecundityingoats
AT xiaoyunhe hypothalamustranscriptomerevealskeylncrnasandmrnasassociatedwithfecundityingoats
AT mingxingchu hypothalamustranscriptomerevealskeylncrnasandmrnasassociatedwithfecundityingoats