Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals candidate genes for seasonal breeding in the male Lion-Head goose

1. Due to seasonal breeding, geese breeds from Southern China have low egg yield. The genetic makeup underlying performance of local breeds is largely unknown, and few studies have investigated this problem. This study integrated 21 newly generated and 50 publicly existing RNA-seq libraries, representing the hypothalamus, pituitary and testis, to identify candidate genes and importantly related pathways associated with seasonal breeding in male Lion-Head geese. 2. In total, 19, 119 and 302 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the hypothalamus, pituitary and testis, respectively, of male Lion-Head geese between non-breeding and breeding periods. These genes were significantly involved in the neuropeptide signalling pathway, gland development, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, JAK-STAT signalling pathway, cAMP signalling pathway, PI3K-Akt signalling pathway and Foxo signalling pathway. 3. By integrating another 50 RNA-seq samples 4, 18 and 40 promising DEGs were confirmed in hypothalamus, pituitary and testis, respectively. 4. <i>HOX</i> genes were identified as having important roles in the development of testis between non-breeding and breeding periods of male Lion-Head geese.

1. 受季节性繁殖特性影响，中国南方本土鹅种的产蛋量普遍偏低。目前学界对这类地方品种繁殖相关性状的遗传构成尚不明晰，相关研究较为匮乏。本研究整合了21份新构建与50份公开可用的RNA测序（RNA-seq）文库，这些文库涵盖雄性狮头鹅的下丘脑、垂体与睾丸组织，旨在筛选与雄性狮头鹅季节性繁殖相关的候选基因及关键调控通路。2. 相较于非繁殖期，雄性狮头鹅的下丘脑、垂体与睾丸组织中分别检测到19、119和302个差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes, DEGs）。这些基因显著富集于神经肽信号通路、腺体发育、神经活性配体-受体相互作用、JAK-STAT信号通路、cAMP信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路以及Foxo信号通路。3. 本研究通过整合另外50份RNA-seq样本，分别在下丘脑、垂体与睾丸组织中验证得到4、18和40个潜在的差异表达基因。4. 研究发现，同源框基因（HOX）在雄性狮头鹅非繁殖期与繁殖期的睾丸发育过程中发挥关键调控作用。