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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(14); 2056; doi: 10.3390/ani15142056

Influence of Pregnancy on Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing in the Mammary Gland of Kazakh Mares.

Abstract: Kazakh mares have drawn significant attention for their outstanding lactation traits. Lactation, a complex physiological activity, is modulated by multiple factors. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing to conduct whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis on the mammary gland tissue of eight Kazakh mares, of which four were pregnant and four were non-pregnant, to systematically reveal the molecular regulatory mechanisms. The results showed differential expression in 2136 mRNAs, 180 lncRNAs, 104 miRNAs, and 1162 circRNAs. Gene ontology functional annotation indicates that these differentially expressed genes are involved in multiple key biological processes, such as the cellular process (BP), metabolic process, and biological regulation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis suggests that the differentially expressed genes are significantly enriched in essential pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, the chemokine signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, this study constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network based on the differentially expressed genes (|logFC| > 1, FDR < 0.05), offering a novel perspective for revealing the functional regulation of the mammary gland. This study compared genomic differences in mammary gland tissue of pregnant and non-pregnant Kazakh mares and identified candidate genes that are closely related to lactation regulation. It found that various genes, such as , , and , play central regulatory roles in activating mammary gland functions. These findings provide theoretical support for explaining the molecular mechanisms underlying the mammary gland development of Kazakh mares.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-11 PubMed ID: 40723519PubMed Central: PMC12291736DOI: 10.3390/ani15142056Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on the influence of pregnancy on the genetic activity within the mammary glands of Kazakh mares, specifically looking at differences between pregnant and non-pregnant mares.

Methodology

  • The researchers applied high-throughput sequencing technology to conduct a whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis on the mammary gland tissues from a total of eight Kazakh mares, half of which were pregnant and the other half were non-pregnant.
  • The study used Gene ontology functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis to understand the functions and pathways that the differentially expressed genes were involved in.
  • A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed, using identified differentially expressed genes, to offer a fresh perspective on the functional regulation of the mammary gland.

Findings

  • The results showed differential expression between the two groups in a total of 2136 mRNA, 180 lncRNA, 104 miRNA, and 1162 circRNAs. Such variance indicates a significant genomic difference in the mammary gland tissue amongst the pregnant and non-pregnant mares.
  • Gene ontology functional annotation found these differentially expressed genes play a part in several essential biological processes such as cellular processes, metabolic processes, and biological regulation.
  • The differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in essential pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, the chemokine signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, as suggested by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis.
  • Several genes were identified as crucial in the regulation and activation of the mammary glands’ functions.

Implications

  • This research contributes to a better understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved in the development of the mammary gland in Kazakh mares.
  • Identifying the relevant genes and their functions can help develop theoretical support for future studies and possibly lead to more efficient breeding programs focusing on lactation traits in mares.

Cite This Article

APA
Zhang Z, Lu Z, Yao X, Li L, Meng J, Wang J, Zeng Y, Ren W. (2025). Influence of Pregnancy on Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing in the Mammary Gland of Kazakh Mares. Animals (Basel), 15(14), 2056. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142056

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 14
PII: 2056

Researcher Affiliations

Zhang, Zhenyu
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Lu, Zhixin
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Yao, Xinkui
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
Li, Linling
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Meng, Jun
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
Wang, Jianwen
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
Zeng, Yaqi
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
Ren, Wanlu
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.

Grant Funding

  • ZYYD2025JD02 / Central Guidance for Local Science and Technology Development Fund
  • 2024B02013-2 / Key Research and Development Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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