Expression profile of circular RNAs in continuous light-induced ovarian dysfunction

作者：Yuling Li, Guicheng Xia, Yong Tan, Jiaqi Shuai · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113861 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Circular RNAs in diseases、Reproductive Biology and Fertility、Sperm and Testicular Function

PURPOSE: This study aims to elucidate the underlying relationship between the expression profiles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and the ovarian dysfunction induced by continuous light. METHODS: High-throughput sequencing was used to profile the transcriptome of differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in rat ovary under continuous light exposure (12 h:12 h light/light cycle, L/L group) and a control cycle (12 h:12 h light/dark cycle, L/D group). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and circRNAs-microRNAs-messenger RNAs networks were performed to predict the role of DEcircRNAs in biological processes and pathways. A quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was conducted to verify the high-throughput sequencing results and the expression level of circadian rhythm genes. RESULTS: In total, 305 circRNAs were differentially expressed between the L/L and L/D groups. Among these, 211 circRNAs were up regulated, while 94 were down regulated. Eight candidate circRNAs from 305 DEcircRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR. Further bioinformatics analysis revealed that interactions between DEcircRNAs and a set of microRNAs involved in ovarian dysfunction-related pathways, such as regulation of androgen receptors, gonadotrophin releasing hormone signaling pathway, endocrine resistance, etc. Subsequently, we identified rno_circ:chr2:86868285-86964272 and rno_circ:chr1:62330221-62360...