Transcriptomic sequencing of the murine testis during the first wave of spermatogenesis

Our experimental design includes samples at different time points during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Each time point corresponds to specific cell content in the testis. First time point is post natal day (PND) 7, when only somatic cells and spermatogonia are present in the testis. Thereafter additional cell types are present in selected samples in chronological order: PND 14 contains early spermatocytes, PND 17 late spermatocytes, PND 21 round spermatids and finally PND 28 elongating spermatids. Our results highlight differentially expressed genes and gene isoforms, which are important for correct sperm development and male fertility. In addition, functional analysis suggests a highly controlled gene expression pattern during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Transcriptome sequencing of the mouse testes at PND 7, 14, 17, 21 and 28 for analysis of differences in gene expression pattern during the first wave of spermatogenesis. In total 10 samples were analysed, replicates for each time point.本实验设计涵盖精子发生（spermatogenesis）第一波进程中的多个时间点样本，每个时间点对应小鼠睾丸内特定的细胞组分。首个时间点为出生后天数（post natal day, PND）7，此时睾丸内仅存在体细胞（somatic cells）与精原细胞（spermatogonia）。后续按时间顺序选取的样本中陆续出现新增细胞类型：PND 14样本包含早期精母细胞（spermatocytes），PND 17样本包含晚期精母细胞，PND 21样本包含圆形精子细胞（round spermatids），最终PND 28样本包含伸长型精子细胞（elongating spermatids）。本研究结果聚焦于对正常精子发生与雄性生育能力至关重要的差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes）及基因异构体（gene isoforms）。此外，功能分析表明，精子发生第一波进程中存在高度受控的基因表达调控模式。本研究对PND 7、14、17、21、28五个时间点的小鼠睾丸进行转录组测序（transcriptome sequencing），以解析精子发生第一波进程中的基因表达模式差异。本次分析共纳入10个样本，每个时间点均设置生物学重复。