Table4_Dynamic changes in cellular atlases and communication patterns within yak ovaries across diverse reproductive states unveiled by single-cell analysis.XLSX

Yaks (Bos grunniens) exhibit exceptional adaptation to the challenging high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, making them the sole bovine species capable of thriving in such exreme conditions. Investigating the cellular and molecular characteristics of yak ovaries across different reproductive states is crucial for gaining insight into their ovarian functions. Herein, the cellular atlases of yak ovaries in different reproductive states were depicted by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). The cellular atlases of the ovaries were established by identifying specific gene expression patterns of various cell types, including granulosa cells, theca cells, stromal cells, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, glial cell, macrophages, natural killer cells, and proliferating cells. The cellular compositions of the ovaries vary among different reproductive states. Furthermore, the granulosa cells comprise six cell subtypes, while theca cells consist of eight cell subtypes. The granulosa cells and theca cells exhibit distinct biological functions throughout different reproductive states. The two cell types were aligned along their respective pseudotime trajectories. Moreover, a cell-to-cell communication network was constructed among distinct cell types within the ovary, spanning the three reproductive states. Notably, during the estrus period, the granulosa cells demonstrated more prominent interactions with other cell types compared to the remaining reproductive states.

牦牛（Bos grunniens）对青藏高原严苛的高海拔环境具备极强适应性，是目前唯一可在此类极端环境下繁衍生息的牛科物种。解析不同生殖状态下牦牛卵巢的细胞与分子特征，对于深入理解其卵巢功能至关重要。本研究借助单细胞RNA测序（single-cell RNA-sequencing, scRNA-seq）技术，绘制了不同生殖状态下牦牛卵巢的细胞图谱。研究通过识别各类细胞的特异性基因表达模式完成了该图谱的构建，涵盖的细胞类型包括颗粒细胞（granulosa cells）、卵泡膜细胞（theca cells）、基质细胞（stromal cells）、平滑肌细胞（smooth muscle cells）、内皮细胞（endothelial cells）、胶质细胞（glial cell）、巨噬细胞（macrophages）、自然杀伤细胞（natural killer cells）以及增殖细胞（proliferating cells）。不同生殖状态下，牦牛卵巢的细胞组成存在显著差异。此外，颗粒细胞可分为6个细胞亚型，卵泡膜细胞则可分为8个细胞亚型。颗粒细胞与卵泡膜细胞在不同生殖状态下展现出截然不同的生物学功能，两类细胞均被映射至各自的拟时间轨迹中。此外，本研究还构建了覆盖三种生殖状态的卵巢内不同细胞类型间的细胞通讯网络。值得注意的是，与其余生殖状态相比，发情期的颗粒细胞与其他细胞类型间的互作更为显著。