ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2019, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (2): 243-252.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2019.02.002

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Research Progress on the Regulative Role of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Gene in Animal Reproduction

LI Huazhen1,2, LIU Wujun2, LIU Qiuyue1, WANG Xiangyu1, HU Wenping1, XIA Qing1, LI Chunyan1, HE Xiaoyun1, DI Ran1*, CHU Mingxing1*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2018-04-11 Online:2019-02-23 Published:2019-02-23

Abstract:

Thyroid hormone (TH) and its receptors play an important biological role in animal reproduction, in addition to regulating normal body development and metabolic balance. Thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRα) and thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) belong to the ligand-dependent nuclear receptor superfamily and are encoded by the THRA and THRB genes, respectively. Different alternative splicing or transcription start positions in the 2 genes can result in multiple receptor subtypes in different tissues. In this review, the basic characteristics of TRs were introduced firstly. Then using the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) as a clue, the regulation of TRs on the gonadal axis system by involving pulse release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), levels of gonadal hormones, gonadotropin receptor and sex hormone receptor expression was reviewed. Finally, this review summarizes the regulation of TH/TRs on seasonal reproduction from aspects of TH-GnRH pathway, the role of TH/TRs in seasonal reproduction of mammals and their role in seasonal bird reproduction in favor of understanding the molecular mechanism of seasonal reproduction of animals and providing new ideas for artificial regulation of seasonal estrus.

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