Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (11): 4925-4937.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.11.013

• Animal Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of Whole Transcriptome Characteristics of the Hermaphroditic Pig's Pituitary Gland

Congying YU(), Jinhua WU, Bingzhou ZHONG, Haiquan ZHAO, Shuwen TAN, Hui YU*(), Hua LI*()   

  1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precision Breeding, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
  • Received:2024-04-28 Online:2024-11-23 Published:2024-11-30
  • Contact: Hui YU, Hua LI E-mail:13415551629@163.com;yu71hui@aliyun.com;okhuali@fosu.edu.cn

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to explore the expression characteristics of coding and non-coding RNAs in the pituitary gland of hermaphroditic pigs, thereby providing supporting data for the analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying pituitary dysfunction in these pigs. Three five-month-old normal sows and three hermaphroditic pigs were used for the study. Serum hormone assays and whole transcriptome sequencing of pituitary tissues were carried out to analyze and identify differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs in the pituitary of hermaphroditic pigs. Additionally, a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was established to elucidate the regulatory relationships of related genes in the pituitary of hermaphroditic pigs. Disrupted serum hormone secretion and abnormal pituitary function were observed in hermaphroditic pigs. Comparison with normal sows, 1 451 differentially expressed mRNAs, 277 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 17 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the pituitary gland of hermaphroditic pigs, which were enriched in biological pathways, such as the MAPK signaling pathway, the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and the PRL signaling pathway. Through the analysis of the ceRNA network, competitive combinations of TCONS_00175477-novel_265-CCNB3, TCONS_00134726-novel_265-ZNF366 and TCONS_00212783-novel_265-ZNF366 were identified possibly related to abnormal pituitary hormone secretion in hermaphroditic pigs. In summary, the differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs in the pituitary gland of hermaphroditic pigs were revealed, thereby ceRNA networks were constructed, which may be involved in regulating hormone synthesis and secretion in this study. All these were aid to support the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the dysfunction of the pituitary gland in hermaphroditic pigs.

Key words: hermaphroditic pigs, pituitary, whole transcriptome, ceRNA, hormones

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