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Home / Equine Research Bank / Biology (Basel) / Transcriptome Analysis of Muscle Tissue from Three Anatomica...
Biology2025; 14(9); 1216; doi: 10.3390/biology14091216

Transcriptome Analysis of Muscle Tissue from Three Anatomical Locations in Male and Female Kazakh Horses.

Abstract: The Kazakh horse, a versatile breed, is renowned for stable genetic performance and strong tolerance to coarse feed. Sex is a key factor influencing skeletal muscle development. However, the mechanisms underlying sex-specific regulation of equine muscle growth remain obscure. This study employed transcriptomic analysis to investigate sex-associated molecular differences in skeletal muscle of Kazakh horses. The experimental cohort comprised four three-year-old Kazakh stallions and four three-year-old Kazakh mares. After slaughter, six groups of muscle samples were collected immediately, including the longissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and diaphragm muscles of both sexes, with four biological replicates per group. RNA-seq analysis revealed 361, 230, and 236 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the longissimus dorsi of stallion Kazakh horses (Mb) vs. the longissimus dorsi of mare Kazakh horses (Gb), the rectus abdominis of stallion Kazakh horses (Mf) vs. the rectus abdominis of mare Kazakh horses (Gf), and the diaphragm of stallion Kazakh horses (Mg) vs. the diaphragm of mare Kazakh horses (Gg), respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that DEGs such as , , , and were primarily enriched in muscle system processes (BP), contractile fibers (CC), and adenosine ribonucleotide binding (MF). Furthermore, these genes were significantly associated with pathways such as the Cytoskeleton in muscle cells and the Thyroid hormone signaling pathway. The data demonstrate pronounced sex-related differences in gene expression and muscle structure in Kazakh horses, likely mediated by cytoskeleton-associated genes. Notably, , , , and may act as key regulators of sex-specific muscle development. These findings provide molecular insights into the mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in equine muscle growth.
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Publication Date: 2025-09-08 PubMed ID: 41007361PubMed Central: PMC12467203DOI: 10.3390/biology14091216Google 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.

Overview

  • This study analyzed gene expression differences in muscle tissues from male and female Kazakh horses to understand how sex influences muscle development at the molecular level.

Introduction and Objective

  • The Kazakh horse breed is valued for consistent genetic traits and the ability to thrive on rough feed.
  • Sex-based differences are known to affect skeletal muscle growth, but the specific molecular mechanisms in horses are unclear.
  • The research aimed to explore sex-associated gene expression differences in various muscle types of Kazakh horses using transcriptome analysis.

Experimental Design

  • Animals: Four 3-year-old male (stallions) and four 3-year-old female (mares) Kazakh horses were selected.
  • Muscle Sampling: Three different muscle types were sampled immediately post-slaughter from each horse:
    • Longissimus dorsi
    • Rectus abdominis
    • Diaphragm
  • Replicates: There were four biological replicates for each muscle group and sex, totaling six sample groups.

Methodology: Transcriptome Analysis

  • RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on all muscle samples to quantify gene expression profiles.
  • Comparisons were made between male and female horses for each muscle type to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs):
    • Longissimus dorsi (stallions vs. mares): 361 DEGs identified
    • Rectus abdominis (stallions vs. mares): 230 DEGs identified
    • Diaphragm (stallions vs. mares): 236 DEGs identified

Bioinformatics Analyses

  • Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment was used to classify DEGs associated with:
    • Biological Processes (BP) – e.g., muscle system processes
    • Cellular Components (CC) – e.g., contractile fibers
    • Molecular Functions (MF) – e.g., adenosine ribonucleotide binding
  • Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed key pathways linked to the sex-specific muscle gene expression changes:
    • Cytoskeleton organization within muscle cells
    • Thyroid hormone signaling pathway, which influences muscle metabolism and growth

Key Findings

  • There are distinct sex-related differences in gene expression across multiple muscle groups in Kazakh horses.
  • Many DEGs are related to muscle structure and function, especially cytoskeleton-associated genes that govern muscle cell architecture.
  • The study highlights the likely regulatory role of specific genes (names were not provided in the abstract) in orchestrating sexual dimorphism in muscle development.
  • Sex differences in gene expression may underlie observed differences in muscle structure and function between male and female horses.

Conclusions and Significance

  • This transcriptomic study provides molecular insights into how sex influences muscle growth in horses, emphasizing the importance of cytoskeletal and hormone-related pathways.
  • Understanding sex-specific molecular mechanisms can aid in breeding and management strategies tailored to optimize muscle development and performance in Kazakh horses.
  • The results contribute to the broader knowledge of sexual dimorphism in equine muscle biology, which could impact veterinary and equine sports science.

Cite This Article

APA
Wubuli A, Su Y, Yao X, Meng J, Wang J, Zeng Y, Li L, Ren W. (2025). Transcriptome Analysis of Muscle Tissue from Three Anatomical Locations in Male and Female Kazakh Horses. Biology (Basel), 14(9), 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14091216

Publication

Biology
ISSN: 2079-7737
NlmUniqueID: 101587988
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 9
PII: 1216

Researcher Affiliations

Wubuli, Ayixie
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Su, Yi
  • 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.
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.
Li, Linling
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 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.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Liu J, Yang Y, Wen L, Wen M, Zeng Y, Ren W, Yao X. Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes of 1-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. Biology (Basel) 2026 Jan 4;15(1).
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