Alterations of mRNA and lncRNA profiles associated with the extracellular matrix and spermatogenesis in goats

Haolin Chen; Xiaomeng Miao; Jinge Xu; Ling Pu; Liang Li; Yong Han; Fengxian Mao; Youji Ma

doi:10.5713/ab.21.0259

Animal Bioscience (Apr 2022)

Alterations of mRNA and lncRNA profiles associated with the extracellular matrix and spermatogenesis in goats

Haolin Chen,
Xiaomeng Miao,
Jinge Xu,
Ling Pu,
Liang Li,
Yong Han,
Fengxian Mao,
Youji Ma

Affiliations

Haolin Chen: College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Xiaomeng Miao: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, 550000, China
Jinge Xu: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, 550000, China
Ling Pu: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, 550000, China
Liang Li: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, 550000, China
Yong Han: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, 550000, China
Fengxian Mao: Guizhou Province Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Management Station, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000, China
Youji Ma: College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.21.0259
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 35, no. 4
pp. 544 – 555

Abstract

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Objective Spermatozoa are produced within the seminiferous tubules after sexual maturity. The expression levels of mRNAs and lncRNAs in testicular tissues are different at each stage of testicular development and are closely related to formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and spermatogenesis. Therefore, we set out to study the expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs during the different developmental stages of the goat testis. Methods We constructed 12 RNA libraries using testicular tissues from goats aged 3, 6, and 12 months, and studied the functions of mRNAs and lncRNAs using the gene ontogeny (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases. Relationships between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and protein-protein interaction network (PPI). Finally, the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) were detected by western blotting. Results We found 23, 8, and 135 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 161, 12, and 665 differentially expressed mRNAs that were identified between 3 vs 6, 6 vs 12, and 3 vs 12 months, respectively. GO, KEGG, and PPI analyses showed that the differential genes were mainly related to the ECM. Moreover, MMP2 was a hub gene and co-expressed with the lncRNA TCONS-0002139 and TCONS-00093342. The results of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction verification were consistent with those of RNA-seq sequencing. The expression trends of MMP2, IGF2, and IGFBP6 protein were the same as that of mRNA, which all decreased with age. IGF2 and MMP2 were significantly different in the 3 vs 6-month-old group (p<0.05). Conclusion These results improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in sexual maturation of the goat testis.

Published in Animal Bioscience

ISSN: 2765-0189 (Print); 2765-0235 (Online)
Publisher: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Science: Zoology
Website: https://www.animbiosci.org/index.php

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