Characterization of ovarian follicles, serum steroid hormone concentration, and steroidogenic gene expression profiles in the developing ovarian follicles in White King pigeons

Y. Wang; Z.Y. Guo; C. Zhang; D.Z. Miao; X.Y. Mao; S.M. Lu; H.M. Yang; Z.Y. Wang

Poultry Science (Jul 2023)

Characterization of ovarian follicles, serum steroid hormone concentration, and steroidogenic gene expression profiles in the developing ovarian follicles in White King pigeons

Y. Wang,
Z.Y. Guo,
C. Zhang,
D.Z. Miao,
X.Y. Mao,
S.M. Lu,
H.M. Yang,
Z.Y. Wang

Affiliations

Y. Wang: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
Z.Y. Guo: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
C. Zhang: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
D.Z. Miao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
X.Y. Mao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
S.M. Lu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
H.M. Yang: Corresponding author:; College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
Z.Y. Wang: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 102, no. 7
p. 102673

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Paired pigeons only lay 2 eggs in a laying period, which is closely related to ovarian follicle development, but this process is not well understood. In this study, 60 pairs of 12-mo-old White King pigeons were selected and serum and follicles were collected at 4 stages of laying interval (LI), including the first (LI1), the third (LI3), the fifth (LI5), and the seventh day (LI7). Morphological results showed that paired pigeons normally had 2 preovulatory follicles and the second-largest follicle (F2) developed from LI3 and had been selected in LI5. Prehierarchical follicles were coupled and hierarchical, which was in accordance with its clutch size. The P4 concentration increased gradually from LI1 to LI5, reaching a maximum of 30.67 ng/mL in LI5 and decreasing to 27.83 ng/mL in LI7 (P 0.05), but it stayed at high levels. In the TCs of the largest follicle (F1), HSD3B1 mRNA and HSD17B1 mRNA levels peaked in LI7. The expression pattern of CYP17A1 and CYP19A1 was similar, increasing from LI3 to LI5 and then decreasing. In the TCs of F2, the expressions of HSD3B1 and CYP17A1 had no significant difference between LI5 and LI7 (P > 0.05), while the expression pattern of HSD17B1 and CYP19A1 was the opposite. In TCs of SF1, HSD3B1 mRNA level peaked in LI3 while CYP19A1 mRNA levels peaked in LI7. The expression of CYP17A1 had a minor change (P > 0.05) and the expression pattern of HSD17B1 was similar to F1. It was concluded that the morphological characteristics of follicles during the LI for the first time, including the number and diameter of small follicles (SFs) and hierarchical follicles in pigeon and the concentrations of steroid hormones and expressions of steroidogenic genes in TCs of different follicles could explain the growth and selection of 2 preovulatory follicles. This study facilitates further research into the regulation of ovulation and egg production in pigeons.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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