Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis plays a central role in mediating physiological responses related to the reproductive system under any stressful condition. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of stress on physiology stil...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2076621 |
| _version_ | 1827860364025397248 |
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| author | Hehe Liu Xia Xiong Fajun Pu Jianmei Wang Yanying Li Yang Xi Shengchao Ma Lili Bai Rongping Zhang Li Liang Chaowu Yang |
| author_facet | Hehe Liu Xia Xiong Fajun Pu Jianmei Wang Yanying Li Yang Xi Shengchao Ma Lili Bai Rongping Zhang Li Liang Chaowu Yang |
| author_sort | Hehe Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis plays a central role in mediating physiological responses related to the reproductive system under any stressful condition. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of stress on physiology still needs to be elucidated. This study demonstrated that increasing the stocking density from 4 to 8 birds/m2 during the laying period decreased the egg production rate of laying ducks by 13.04 − 63.55% and feed intake by 7.40 − 23.44%. Transcriptome analysis between high- and low-feeding-density laying ducks revealed 469, 509, 428 and 210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and follicular membrane, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs in the hypothalamus and pituitary were primarily enriched in the biostimulation and dopamine secretion pathways. The major enrichment pathways in the ovarian and follicular membranes involved lipid metabolism, negative regulation of inflammatory response, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Among the DEGs in the HPG system, POMC and GnRH1 were identified, which may be manifesting their crucial roles in regulating the stress response and reproduction. Our data showed that a high stocking density as environmental stress negatively affects the reproductive performance in ducks through transcriptional changes in the HPG axis.Highlights Raising the stocking density from 4 to 8 birds/m2 decreased the egg production rate and feed intake in laying ducks. The transcriptome indicated that stocking density affects the stress response of laying ducks through the hypothalamus-pituitary. The stress signals are subsequently transmitted to affect gene expression related to the reproduction process in laying ducks’ ovarian and follicular tissues. The hypothalamic expression of POMC and GnRH1 may play a central role in integrating stress signals and the reproductive processes of laying ducks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:22:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0bb3acac32c741e18c7ff47d12c3c1f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:22:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bb3acac32c741e18c7ff47d12c3c1f42023-08-25T13:51:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2022-12-0121195596610.1080/1828051X.2022.20766212076621Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducksHehe Liu0Xia Xiong1Fajun Pu2Jianmei Wang3Yanying Li4Yang Xi5Shengchao Ma6Lili Bai7Rongping Zhang8Li Liang9Chaowu Yang10Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityAnimal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science AcademyFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityAnimal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Science AcademyThe hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis plays a central role in mediating physiological responses related to the reproductive system under any stressful condition. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of stress on physiology still needs to be elucidated. This study demonstrated that increasing the stocking density from 4 to 8 birds/m2 during the laying period decreased the egg production rate of laying ducks by 13.04 − 63.55% and feed intake by 7.40 − 23.44%. Transcriptome analysis between high- and low-feeding-density laying ducks revealed 469, 509, 428 and 210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and follicular membrane, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs in the hypothalamus and pituitary were primarily enriched in the biostimulation and dopamine secretion pathways. The major enrichment pathways in the ovarian and follicular membranes involved lipid metabolism, negative regulation of inflammatory response, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Among the DEGs in the HPG system, POMC and GnRH1 were identified, which may be manifesting their crucial roles in regulating the stress response and reproduction. Our data showed that a high stocking density as environmental stress negatively affects the reproductive performance in ducks through transcriptional changes in the HPG axis.Highlights Raising the stocking density from 4 to 8 birds/m2 decreased the egg production rate and feed intake in laying ducks. The transcriptome indicated that stocking density affects the stress response of laying ducks through the hypothalamus-pituitary. The stress signals are subsequently transmitted to affect gene expression related to the reproduction process in laying ducks’ ovarian and follicular tissues. The hypothalamic expression of POMC and GnRH1 may play a central role in integrating stress signals and the reproductive processes of laying ducks.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2076621stressreproductionhpg axispomcgnrh1 |
| spellingShingle | Hehe Liu Xia Xiong Fajun Pu Jianmei Wang Yanying Li Yang Xi Shengchao Ma Lili Bai Rongping Zhang Li Liang Chaowu Yang Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks Italian Journal of Animal Science stress reproduction hpg axis pomc gnrh1 |
| title | Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| title_full | Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| title_fullStr | Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| title_short | Stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| title_sort | stocking density affects transcriptome changes in the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis and reproductive performance in ducks |
| topic | stress reproduction hpg axis pomc gnrh1 |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2076621 |
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