Transcriptomic Analysis of the Developing Testis and Spermatogenesis in Qianbei Ma Goats

作者：Yue Zou, Xiang Chen, Xingzhou Tian, Wei Guo, Yong Ruan, Wen Tang, Kaibin Fu, Taotao Ji · 发表于：Genes · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.3390/genes14071334 · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Sperm and Testicular Function、Reproductive Physiology in Livestock、Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities

Reproductive competence in male mammals depends on testicular function. Testicular development and spermatogenesis in goats involve highly complex physiological processes. In this study, six testes were, respectively, obtained from each age group, immature (1 month), sexually mature (6 months) and physically mature (12 months old) Qianbei Ma goats. RNA-Seq was performed to assess testicular mRNA expression in Qianbei Ma goats at different developmental stages. Totally, 18 libraries were constructed to screen genes and pathways involved in testis development and spermatogenesis. Totally, 9724 upregulated and 4153 downregulated DEGs were found between immature (I) and sexually mature (S) samples; 7 upregulated and 3 downregulated DEGs were found between sexually mature (S) and physically mature (P) samples, and about 4% of the DEGs underwent alternative splicing events between I and S. Select genes were assessed by qRT-PCR, corroborating RNA-Seq findings. The detected genes have key roles in multiple developmental stages of goat testicular development and spermatogenesis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO analysis revealed DEGs between S and P contributed to “reproduction process”, “channel activity” and “cell periphery part” between I and S, and in “ion transport process”, “channel activity” and “transporter complex part”. KEGG analysis suggested the involvement o...