Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified to be involved in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) reproduction. However, studies of their roles in reproduction have focused mainly on the ovary, and their expression patterns and potential roles in the brain and pituitary are unclear. Thus, to explore the mRNAs and lncRNAs that are closely associated with reproduction in the brain and pituitary, we collected tongue sole brain and pituitary tissues at three stages for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the 5,135 and 5,630 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 378 and 532 DE lncRNAs were identified in the brain and pituitary, respectively. The RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Moreover, enrichment analyses were performed to analyze the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs. Interestingly, their involvement in pathways related to metabolism, signal transduction and endocrine signaling was revealed. LncRNA-target gene interaction networks were constructed based on antisense, cis and trans regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, we constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. In summary, this study provides mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the brain and pituitary to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tongue sole reproduction.

Highlights

  • IntroductionReproduction is a crucial function of the organism and is controlled by complex interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads, i.e., the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis (Abreu and Kaiser, 2016)

  • Half-smooth tongue sole is one of the most economically important marine flatfish that is widely cultured in China

  • 18 cDNA libraries were constructed for sequencing to conduct a mechanistic investigation of the brain and pituitary transcriptome mechanism and analyse the potential role of Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulating the reproduction in tongue sole

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Summary

Introduction

Reproduction is a crucial function of the organism and is controlled by complex interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads, i.e., the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis (Abreu and Kaiser, 2016). Within this axis, the hypothalamus releases the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), which can act on pituitary gonadotropes, triggering the release of LncRNAs-mRNAs in Brain and Pituitary follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH). The importance of the HPG axis for reproduction has been suggested, in contrast to the wealth of knowledge in mammals, the integrated molecular mechanism of HPG axis regulation in nonmammalian species has not been elucidated

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