Table3_Expression Profile Analysis to Identify Circular RNA Expression Signatures in the Prolificacy Trait of Yunshang Black Goat Pituitary in the Estrus Cycle.xlsx

The pituitary gland is an important organ. It is a complex area of the brain involved in endocrine function and reproductive regulation. However, the function of the pituitary in goat reproduction is still unclear. Herein, RNA sequencing was used to explore the expression patterns of circle RNAs (circRNAs) in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats during the various estrus phases. Then the host genes of the circRNAs were predicted, and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed. The results showed a total of 6,705 circRNAs in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats, among which 388 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs (214 were upregulated, while 174 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the follicular phase (HF vs. LF); moreover, 361 DE circRNAs (136 were upregulated, while 225 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the luteal phase (HL vs. LL). There were 65 DE circRNAs targeting 40 miRNAs in the HF vs. LF comparison and 46 DE circRNAs targeting 31 miRNAs in the HL vs. LL comparison. We identified chi_circ_0030920, chi_circ_0043017, chi_circ_0008353, chi_circ_0041580, and chi_circ_0016478 as the key circRNAs through functional enrichment analysis. The ceRNA network analysis showed that chi_circ_0031209 and chi_circ_0019448 might play an important role in reproduction by influencing the expression of prolactin receptor (PRLR) in high- and low-yielding goats during the luteal phase, whereas chi_circ_0014542 regulates the expression of WNT5A during the follicular phase. Our study provided the overall expression profiles of circRNAs in the goat pituitary during the estrus phase, which provides new insight into the mechanism of high-yield goats, which can be helpful to guide goat breeding.

垂体是机体重要的内分泌器官，作为大脑内参与内分泌功能与生殖调控的复杂区域。然而，山羊垂体在生殖过程中的具体功能仍未完全阐明。本研究采用RNA测序（RNA sequencing）技术，探究云尚黑山羊（Yunshang black goats）不同发情周期阶段垂体组织内环状RNA（circRNAs）的表达模式。随后预测了环状RNA的宿主基因，并构建了内源竞争RNA（ceRNA）调控网络。研究共在云尚黑山羊垂体组织中鉴定出6705条环状RNA；在卵泡期高低产云尚黑山羊组（HF vs. LF）中，共筛选得到388个差异表达（DE）环状RNA，其中214个表达上调、174个表达下调；在黄体期高低产云尚黑山羊组（HL vs. LL）中，鉴定得到361个差异表达环状RNA，其中136个表达上调、225个表达下调。HF与LF组间共有65个差异表达环状RNA靶向调控40种miRNA，HL与LL组间则有46个差异表达环状RNA靶向调控31种miRNA。通过功能富集分析，我们筛选得到chi_circ_0030920、chi_circ_0043017、chi_circ_0008353、chi_circ_0041580及chi_circ_0016478这5个关键环状RNA。内源竞争RNA网络分析显示，在黄体期高低产山羊中，chi_circ_0031209与chi_circ_0019448可能通过调控催乳素受体（PRLR）的表达参与生殖过程；而在卵泡期，chi_circ_0014542可调控WNT5A的表达。本研究系统解析了发情周期内山羊垂体组织环状RNA的整体表达谱，为解析山羊高产性状的分子机制提供了新的研究视角，可为山羊育种实践提供理论参考。