China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (7): 2965-2980.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.07.001

• Biotechnology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparative Analysis of miRNA-mRNA Expression Profile in Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Gonad Axis During Estrus and Anestrus in Gilts

LYU Lingyan1,2, SUN Ruyu1, LIN Changhua2,3, ZHANG Shengbin3, QIN Xiuzhen3, BAI Xiufang3, WU Yongshao1, CHEN Zhao1, LIU Lei1,2, ZHANG Bing1, JIANG Jiaxia2,4, ZHANG Jiaqing5   

  1. 1. Guangxi Vocational and Technical University of Agriculture, Nanning 530007, China;
    2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
    3. Guangxi Nongken Yongxin Livestock Group Xijiang Co., Ltd., Guigang 537100, China;
    4. College of Agricultural Engineering, Guangxi Vocational and Technical College, Nanning 530226, China;
    5. Institute of Animal Husbandry, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
  • Received:2025-01-23 Online:2025-07-05 Published:2025-07-01

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Abstract: 【Objective】 The purpose of this study was to explore the key role of miRNA-mRNA interaction network in the regulation of estrus in gilts for explaining the genetic mechanism of miRNA-mRNA interaction in the estrus activity of gilts. 【Method】 The hypothalamus,pituitary and ovary of gilts in estrus and anestrus were selected as the study objects.The concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),progesterone (P4),estradiol (E2), and other reproductive hormones in serum were measured.After sRNA-Seq analysis,the differentially expressed miRNA were screened out by bioinformatics software,GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed miRNA target genes were performed using R language,and 4 differentially expressed miRNAs were verified by Real-time quantitative PCR. 【Result】 The concentration of reproductive hormone in serum was consistent with the physiological cycle of gilts.A total of 742 known miRNAs and 229 novel miRNAs in gilts were detected during estrus and anestrus,57 differentially expressed miRNAs (24 up-regulated and 33 down-regulated) were found in hypothalamus of gilts during estrus and anestrus,71 differentially expressed miRNAs (44 up-regulated and 27 down-regulated) in pituitary were found,and 140 differentially expressed miRNAs (63 up-regulated and 77 down-regulated) in ovary were found. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed miRNA target genes in hypothalamus of gilts were mainly involved in proteoglycan in cancer,NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,and cytokine receptor interaction.The differentially expressed miRNA target genes in pituitary were mainly involved in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism,GnRH secretion,cell adhesion molecules,metabolic signaling pathway.The differentially expressed miRNA target genes in ovary were mainly involved in chemokine signaling pathway,lysosome,ovarian sterogenesis, cholesterol metabolism,PPAR signaling pathway,and ECM-receptor interaction.In the target gene regulatory network related to reproduction,the key miRNA that might be mediated by hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary gonad axis to regulate the estrus activity of gilts were screened:miR-6240Z,ssc-miR-34a,ssc-miR-143-3P,ssc-miR-127,ssc-miR-21-5P,and ssc-miR-381-3p.Four differentially expressed miRNAs in ovary of gilts were verified by Real-time quantitative PCR,and the expression trends were consistent with the sequencing results. 【Conclusion】 In this study,miRNA expression profiles of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary gonad axis of gilts in estrus and anestrus were successfully constructed,and the differentially expressed miRNA was verified.miRNAs that were significantly related to the estrus activity of gilts were screened,which provided theoretical basis for the analysis of the estrus mechanism of gilts.

Key words: miRNA-mRNA; gilts; estrus; anestrus; hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary gonad axis

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