Abstract
Photoperiod is one of the important factors leading to seasonal reproduction of sheep. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the photoperiod regulation of seasonal reproduction remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in uterine tissues from Sunite sheep during three different photoperiods, namely, the short photoperiod (SP), short transfer to long photoperiod (SLP), and long photoperiod (LP). The results showed that 298, 403, and 378 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 171, 491, and 499 DE lncRNAs, and 124, 270, and 400 DE circRNAs were identified between SP and LP, between SP and SLP, and between LP and SLP, respectively. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed RNAs were mainly involved in the GnRH signaling pathway, thyroid hormone synthesis, and thyroid hormone signaling pathway. In addition, co-expression networks of lncRNA–mRNA were constructed based on the correlation analysis between the differentially expressed RNAs. Our study provides new insights into the expression changes of RNAs in different photoperiods, which might contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of seasonal reproduction in sheep.
Highlights
Reproduction has a critical impact on the profitability of sheep production, but seasonal reproduction is an important factor limiting the reproductive efficiency of sheep
Our results demonstrate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the uterus’ regulation of reproduction, giving us newer insights regarding the regulation of seasonal reproduction in sheep
Three Sunite sheep were moved into controlled photoperiod rooms for 42 days under an artificial short photoperiod (SP = 8 h light, 16 h dark); three Sunite sheep were moved into controlled photoperiod rooms for 42 days under an artificial long photoperiod (LP = 16 h light, 8 h dark); and three Sunite sheep were moved into long photoperiod controlled photoperiod rooms for 42 days after being moved into short photoperiod controlled photoperiod rooms for 42 days (SLP)
Summary
Reproduction has a critical impact on the profitability of sheep production, but seasonal reproduction is an important factor limiting the reproductive efficiency of sheep. Seasonal reproduction can be categorized as long-day (LD) breeders and short-day (SD) breeders [1], of which sheep are short-day breeders, and reducing the day length promotes the seasonal onset of the cycling activity [2]. Seasonal reproduction is strictly regulated by seasonal changes in relative day length and night length [3]. Small Tail Han sheep exhibit reproductive behavior all year round [8]. Sunite sheep develop gonads and display seasonal reproductive behavior during specific times of the year [9]. The molecular mechanism of seasonal reproduction of sheep can be better studied by using Sunite sheep as a model
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