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Sheep exhibit a distinct estrous cycle that includes four different phases: proestrus, estrus, late estrus, and luteal phase. As the estrous cycle repeats, follicular development regularly alternates. We thus investigated ovarian transcriptome data from each of the four phases using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify modules, pathways, and genes essential to follicle growth and development. We clustered mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) into different modules by WGCNA, and calculated correlation coefficients between genes and Stages of the estrous cycle. Co-expression of the black module (cor = 0.81, P

In order to investigate the expression of lncRNAs in the ovaries of Qira black sheep at different stages of the estrous cycle, Qira black sheep were used as experimental materials in this experiment, and after estrus synchronization, ovarian tissues at four different stages of the estrous cycle were collected to extract total RNA.The samples at different stages were first subjected to genome-wide analysis using RNA-seq technology; target genes of lncRNAs were predicted using co-expression methods; and then GO and KEGG analysis of target genes was performed. Genes related to the estrous cycle of Qira black sheep were also selected to study their transcriptional differences. Finally, lncRNA-miRNA and mRNA-lncRNA-miRNA interaction networks were established to further analyze the effect of lncRNA alignment on Qira black sheep reproduction. The results showed that in the differentially expressed part, 14 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in Estrous VS Diestrus; the differential expression levels of lncRNAs in the two comparison groups of Estrous VS Metestrus and Estrus VS Proestrus were 18 and 24, respectively. The results of GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed lncRNAs and their target genes were mainly involved in reproduction-related pathways such as retinol metabolism, ovarian sterol production and endosterol biosynthesis. In the combined analysis of lncRNA-miRNA and mRNA-lncRNA-miRNA, genes related to reproduction, such as LNC011583, LNC003443 and bta-miR-202, were found, thus it can be seen that lncRNAs have some effect in the reproduction of Qira black sheep.

Ovary is the main functional organ in reproduction and has obvious difference in the biological activity during the estrous cycle. To investigate the genes associated with follicular development, ovulation, or non-season reproduction, gene expression differences in the ovaries of Qira black sheep estrous stage and anestrous stage in May were assessed using RNA-seq technology. This analysis obtained approximately 1.17 Gb and 1.22 Gb clean reads in Qira black sheep anestrous stage and estrous stage libraries, respectively. Six hundred and fifty one differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, in which 400 genes were up-regulated and 251 genes were down-regulated in the anestrous stage samples compared with estrous stage samples. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in 52 functional groups for the 3 GO categories. Using KEGG pathway analysis, 35 significant signaling pathways were enriched, including calcium signaling pathway, steroid biosynthesis, cell adhesion molecules, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. This study will provide a list of candidate genes for the future research in sheep reproduction.

Ovary is the main functional organ in reproduction and has obvious difference in the biological activity during the estrous cycle. To investigate the genes associated with follicular development, ovulation, or non-season reproduction, gene expression differences in the ovaries of Qira black sheep estrous stage and anestrous stage in May were assessed using RNA-seq technology. This analysis obtained approximately 1.17 Gb and 1.22 Gb clean reads in Qira black sheep anestrous stage and estrous stage libraries, respectively. Six hundred and fifty one differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, in which 400 genes were up-regulated and 251 genes were down-regulated in the anestrous stage samples compared with estrous stage samples. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in 52 functional groups for the 3 GO categories. Using KEGG pathway analysis, 35 significant signaling pathways were enriched, including calcium signaling pathway, steroid biosynthesis, cell adhesion molecules, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. This study will provide a list of candidate genes for the future research in sheep reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep exhibit a distinct estrous cycle that includes four different phases: proestrus, estrus, late estrus, and luteal phase. As the estrous cycle repeats, follicular development regularly alternates. We thus investigated ovarian transcriptome data from each of the four phases using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify modules, pathways, and genes essential to follicle growth and development. We clustered mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) into different modules by WGCNA, and calculated correlation coefficients between genes and Stages of the estrous cycle. Co-expression of the black module (cor = 0.81, P <0.001) and the yellow module (cor = 0.61, P <0.04) was found to be critical for follicle growth and development. A total of 2066 genes comprising the black and yellow modules was used for functional enrichment. The results reveal that these genes are mainly enriched in Cell cycle, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Oocyte meiosis, Apoptosis, and other important signaling pathways. We also identified seven hub genes ( BUB1B, MAD2L1, ASPM, HSD3B1, WDHD1, CENPA , and MXI1 ) that may play a role in follicle development. Our study may provide several important new markers allowing in depth exploration of the genetic basis for multiparous reproduction in sheep., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Chen and Zeng.)