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Identification of reproduction-related genes and pathways in the Culter alburnus H-P-G axis and characterization of their expression differences in malformed and normal gynogenetic ovaries

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Abstract

This study applied RNA-seq technology to discover reproduction-related genes and pathways in female topmouth culter brain (including pituitary) and ovarian tissues. In functional analysis, 2479 and 2605 unigenes in the brain and ovary tissue were assigned to the “reproductive process” subcategory in addition to the 2660 and 2845 unigenes assigned to the “reproduction” subcategory. Twenty-three complete cDNA sequences were identified through the different gene expression (DGE) approach from five reproduction-related pathways (MAPK signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathway, gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis pathway, and steroid biosynthesis pathway). The expression levels of 16 candidate genes using qPCR in this study were in accordance with the results of transcriptome analysis. In addition, the expression levels of the FSH, 3β-HSD, PGR, and NPYR genes in malformed gynogenetic ovaries were considerably low, which was consistent with the progress of oocytogenesis in the ovaries of topmouth culter. The high expression of these four genes in the ovaries of normal topmouth culter suggested they might involve in the preparation for the shift of oogenesis to ovulation. Hence, our work identified a set of annotated gene products that are candidate factors affecting reproduction in the topmouth culter H-P-G axis. These results could be essential for further research in functional genomics and genetic editing for topmouth culter reproduction.

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Funding

This research was supported by: Major Science and Technology Programs for Agriculture (Aquaculture) New Variety Selection of Zhejiang province (2016C02055-1) and the Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of Zhejiang province (LQ18C190001).

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  1. Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquaculture Genetic and Breeding of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Yong Y. Jia, Mei L. Chi, Wen P. Jiang, Shi L. Liu, Shun Cheng, Jian B. Zheng & Zhi M. Gu

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  1. Yong Y. Jia
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Jia, Y.Y., Chi, M.L., Jiang, W.P. et al. Identification of reproduction-related genes and pathways in the Culter alburnus H-P-G axis and characterization of their expression differences in malformed and normal gynogenetic ovaries. Fish Physiol Biochem 47, 1–20 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-020-00859-9

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