The influence of irisin on the transcriptomic profile of porcine anterior pituitary cells during early pregnancy

Irisin, a hormone-like adipomyokine best known for its role in energy and metabolic regulation, has recently gained attention as a potential regulator of reproductive processes. While its effects on the ovary are partly understood, its influence on the anterior pituitary—the key gland coordinating reproductive hormone release—remains unclear. This study explored how irisin affects the transcriptome of porcine anterior pituitary cells (APc) during early pregnancy. Primary APc from pigs at days 15–16 of gestation were treated with irisin (300 ng/mL) and analyzed using RNA sequencing (Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform).