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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Multispecies comparative analysis reveals transcriptional sp...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2022; 57(11); 1295-1306; doi: 10.1111/rda.14203

Multispecies comparative analysis reveals transcriptional specificity during Mongolian horse testicular development.

Abstract: Mongolian horses have been bred and used for labor and transport for centuries. Nevertheless, traits of testicular development in Mongolian horses have rarely been studied; particularly, studies regarding the transcriptional regulation characteristics of testicular development are lacking. In this paper, transcription specificity during testicular development in Mongolian horses is highlighted via a multispecies comparative analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Interestingly, the results showed that most genes were up-regulated in the testes after sexual maturity, which is a phenomenon conserved across species. Moreover, we observed nine key genes involved in regulating Mongolian horse testicular development. Notably, unique transcription signatures of testicular development in Mongolian horses are emphasized, which provides a novel insight into the mechanistic study of their testicular development.
© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-13 PubMed ID: 35789122DOI: 10.1111/rda.14203Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article focuses on understanding the transcriptional patterns that influence testicular development in Mongolian horses through comparative analysis with other species and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).

Research Background

  • Mongolian horses have long been bred for labor and transport, but detailed studies on their testicular development are rare.
  • Understanding the factors that influence testicular development is crucial as it directly contributes to a horse’s reproductive capabilities.

Methodology

  • The researchers used a multispecies comparative analysis approach in their study.
  • This approach allows scientists to compare the genetic information of different species to identify common patterns and differences.
  • Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was also used. WGCNA is a popular method for analyzing gene expression data, particularly for discovering clusters of highly correlated genes and finding connections between genes, traits, and pathways.

Findings

  • The analysis showed that most genes in the testes were up-regulated (active) after sexual maturity. This finding indicates that these genes play a key role in the transition from an immature to a mature state in the testes.
  • This up-regulation post-maturation is not unique to Mongolian horses, however, but appears to be a conserved phenomenon seen across multiple species.
  • Additionally, the researchers identified nine key genes that regulate testicular development in Mongolian horses.

Implications

  • This research provides insight into the genetic regulation and development of testes in the Mongolian horse, a topic that has previously received little attention in scientific literature.
  • The delineation of unique transcription signatures of testicular development could aid in understanding horse breeding patterns at the molecular level.
  • Moreover, the findings could be specifics to guide future efforts in breeding optimization, especially, if these genes are proved also to influence fertility.

Cite This Article

APA
Zhang FL, Zhang XY, Zhao JX, Zhu KX, Liu SQ, Zhang T, Sun YJ, Wang JJ, Shen W. (2022). Multispecies comparative analysis reveals transcriptional specificity during Mongolian horse testicular development. Reprod Domest Anim, 57(11), 1295-1306. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14203

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 11
Pages: 1295-1306

Researcher Affiliations

Zhang, Fa-Li
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
  • College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.
Zhang, Xiao-Yuan
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Zhao, Jin-Xin
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Zhu, Ke-Xin
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Liu, Shu-Qin
  • College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Zhang, Teng
  • State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
Sun, Yu-Jiang
  • College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
  • Dongying Vocational Institute, Dongying, China.
Wang, Jun-Jie
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Shen, Wei
  • College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Male
  • Animals
  • Horses / genetics
  • Testis
  • Phenotype

Grant Funding

  • SD2019XM008 / Major Agricultural Application Technology Innovation Projects of Shandong Province
  • SDAIT-27 / Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System of Shandong Province
  • Start-up Fund for High-level Talents of Qingdao Agricultural University
  • ts20190946 / Taishan Scholar Construction Foundation of Shandong Province of China

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Chang X, Yao X, Meng J, Wang J, Zeng Y, Li L, Ren W. Whole Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes in Pre- and Post-Sexual Maturity Bactrian Camels (Camelus bactrianus). Biology (Basel) 2025 Sep 12;14(9).
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  2. Zhang X, Liu Y, Ma W, Li L, Bai D, Dugarjaviin M. Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differential Gene and Protein Expression and Signaling Pathways During a 20 Km Endurance Exercise and Recovery in Mongolian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 5;15(13).
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  3. Liu Y, Du M, Zhang L, Wang N, He Q, Cao J, Zhao B, Li X, Li B, Bou G, Zhao Y, Dugarjaviin M. Comparative Analysis of mRNA and lncRNA Expression Profiles in Testicular Tissue of Sexually Immature and Sexually Mature Mongolian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 7;14(12).
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  4. Liu Y, Du M, Li X, Zhang L, Zhao B, Wang N, Dugarjaviin M. Single-Cell Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Molecular Expression Differences and Marker Genes in Testes during the Sexual Maturation of Mongolian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 23;14(9).
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