Expression Profile Analysis to Identify Circular RNA Expression Signatures in the Prolificacy Trait of Yunshang Black Goat Pituitary in the Estrus Cycle

Abstract

The pituitary gland is an important organ. It is a complex area of the brain involved in endocrine function and reproductive regulation. However, the function of the pituitary in goat reproduction is still unclear. Herein, RNA sequencing was used to explore the expression patterns of circle RNAs (circRNAs) in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats during the various estrus phases. Then the host genes of the circRNAs were predicted, and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed. The results showed a total of 6,705 circRNAs in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats, among which 388 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs (214 were upregulated, while 174 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the follicular phase (HF vs. LF); moreover, 361 DE circRNAs (136 were upregulated, while 225 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the luteal phase (HL vs. LL). There were 65 DE circRNAs targeting 40 miRNAs in the HF vs. LF comparison and 46 DE circRNAs targeting 31 miRNAs in the HL vs. LL comparison. We identified chi_circ_0030920, chi_circ_0043017, chi_circ_0008353, chi_circ_0041580, and chi_circ_0016478 as the key circRNAs through functional enrichment analysis. The ceRNA network analysis showed that chi_circ_0031209 and chi_circ_0019448 might play an important role in reproduction by influencing the expression of prolactin receptor (PRLR) in high- and low-yielding goats during the luteal phase, whereas chi_circ_0014542 regulates the expression of WNT5A during the follicular phase. Our study provided the overall expression profiles of circRNAs in the goat pituitary during the estrus phase, which provides new insight into the mechanism of high-yield goats, which can be helpful to guide goat breeding.

Characterization of circular RNA profiles of oviduct reveal the potential mechanism in prolificacy trait of goat in the estrus cycle

“…Liu et al analysed 2,331 DE circRNAs in goat uterine membranes ( Liu X. R. et al, 2021 ). Similarly, previous studies have analysed circRNAs in goat ovaries ( Liu et al, 2022 ) and pituitary glands ( Liu Y. F. et al, 2021 ), and some DE circRNA as miRNA sponges were identified, which have the potential to regulate fertility in goats. Although circRNAs have been identified in different reproductive organs of goats, however, their biological role in the oviduct remains unclear.…”

“…As the most abundant noncoding RNAs in the eukaryotic transcriptome, circRNAs are important regulators of gene expression at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and translational levels and miRNA function ( Patop et al, 2019 ). Numerous studies have demonstrated the role of circRNAs in regulating mammalian fecundity ( Zou et al, 2020 ; Liu Y. F. et al, 2021 ; Liu et al, 2022 ). Tao et al detected 13,950 circRNAs in goat preovulatory follicles, of which 37 circRNAs were differentially expressed ( Tao et al, 2017 ).…”

Association analysis and expression level of ACE polymorphisms with egg-laying trait in Taihang chicken

“…Three replicates of each sample were performed simultaneously. The RT-qPCR protocol was as follows: 40 cycles of 95°C for 30 s, 95°C for 5 s, and 60°C for 30 s. The expression of GAPDH was used as the standard mRNA expression level and calculated using the 2 –△△CT method ( Liu et al, 2021 ). The primers of RT-qPCR are shown in Table 2 .…”

Transcriptome sequencing reveals the effects of circRNA on testicular development and spermatogenesis in Qianbei Ma goats

“…Holdt et al ( 14 ) discovered that circ-ANRIL could bind to ribosome biogenesis factor 1 (PES1) to prevent ribosome formation, thereby promoting cell apoptosis and inhibiting macrophage proliferation. Liu et al ( 15 ) identified 388 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs in pituitary tissues of high-yield and low-yield black goats and found that circ_0014542 , circ_0031209 and circ_0019448 played important roles in goat reproduction. Zhang et al ( 16 ) detected that circRNAs in goat endometrial epithelial cells could influence the reproductive performance of goats by regulating the embryo implantation process.…”