Combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis of chicken follicles in Tengchong Snow Chicken follicle selection.

Abstract

Objective: The development of pre-hierarchical follicles (PHFs), especially small yellow follicles (SYFs), directly affects the recruitment of dominant follicles and thus affects the egg-laying performance of chickens. However, the development of PHFs, especially SYFs, and their regulatory mechanism remain unclear.

Methods: We performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of large white follicles (LWFs) and SYFs in chickens.

Results: Transcriptome sequencing revealed 258 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SYFs and LWFs, of which 172 were upregulated and 86 were downregulated. The DEGs were mapped to 17 KEGG pathways, including Glutathione metabolism, Ferroptosis, Calcium signaling pathway, and Neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, etc. The metabolome analysis revealed 129 significant differential metabolites (DMs), including 36 upregulated DMs and 93 downregulated DMs. The DMs were mapped to nine KEGG pathways, including Glutathione metabolism, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism, and Linoleic acid metabolism, etc. The combined transcriptional and metabolic analysis revealed significantly enriched pathways. Five KEGG pathways associated with follicular development were identified, including Glutathione metabolism, Ferroptosis, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism, Linoleic acid metabolism, and Pyrimidine metabolism.

Conclusion: Glutathione metabolism may directly inhibit Ferroptosis, which can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs), thereby regulating SYFs development in chickens. These findings provided a reference for improving the egg-laying performance of Tengchong snow chickens.