Exploring differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of estrous and anestrous primiparous sows using RNA-Seq technique

To investigate the effects of HPG axis on reproductive function and the underlying mechanisms involved, six libraries, including hypothalamic, pituitary and ovarian samples (termed A, B and C) from the sows in normal estrus and the corresponding samples (termed A1, B1 and C1) from the sows in which anestrus was caused by inactive ovaries, were constructed and sequenced to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different HPG axises. A total of 710 (392 up and 318 down), 707 (283 up and 424 down), and 956 (635 up and 321 down) DEGs were identi?ed in A vs. A1, B vs. B1 and C vs. C1, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the DEGs were most enrichment in neuropeptide hormone activity, ovarian steroidogenesis, FoxO signaling pathway and GnRH signaling pathway etc. Overall design: Hypothalamic, pituitary and ovarian mRNA profiles of estrous primiparous sows and anestrous primiparous sows were generated by deep sequencing using Illumina HiSeqTM 2500