Rspo1 knockdown in late-previtellogenesis stage ovaries of Qi River crucian carp

R-spondin1 (RSPO1), a member of the secreted furin-like domain-containing protein family, is recognized for its significance in mammalian ovarian development. However, its role in teleost ovarian development remains largely uninvestigated. The Qi River crucian carp (Carassius auratus), a species capable of gynogenesis, encounters challenges related to premature ovarian maturation in aquaculture settings. Previous research has established the essential involvement of Rspo1 in oocyte growth in Qi River crucian carp; nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. In this study, after a 60-day period of RNA interference (RNAi) via injection of Rspo1 dsRNA into late-previtellogenesis stage ovaries, a substantial proportion of oocytes were found to be arrested in primary growth stage, accompanied by a marked reduction in the expression of germ cell marker genes and an increase in apoptosis signaling. Analysis using RNA-seq indicated a potential association between genes involved in hormone synthesis, lipid storage, and cell proliferation with ovary development in Qi River crucian carp. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of Rspo1 in ovarian development in Qi River crucian carp.