Search

ABSTRACT: In avian, follicular selection is a key molecular event that can determine avian egg production. Theca cells (TC) are the main components of follicles, the molecular mechanisms about TCs physiological differences during follicle selection stage are still unclear. This study revealed significant differences in proliferation, apoptosis, lipid synthesis, and steroid secretion levels between prehierarchical theca cells (phTC) and hierarchical theca cells (hTC) of Tianfu meat-type geese. A total of 1,559 differentially expressed genes (DEG) and 71 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEM) were identified between phTCs and hTCs, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis results showed that 143 DEGs were enriched in the pathways related to cell proliferation/apoptosis and lipid/steroid metabolism. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network results indicated the 143 DEGs have functional interactions. Additionally, the predicted target genes of 71 DEMs were jointly analyzed with the above 143 DEGs, and the results showed that 15 DEMs and 17 DEGs with targeted relationships were found. Among them, miR-202-5p was significantly down-regulated both in hTCs and hierarchical theca layers, and target prediction results showed that miR-202-5p may affect TCs proliferation/apoptosis by targeting CHPT1 to regulate the expression levels of CCN1/FOXO3; meanwhile, may affect TCs lipid/steroid metabolism and proliferation/apoptosis by targeting CHPT1 to regulate the expression levels of p53/ABCA1/SREBP-2. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of TCs physiological differences during goose follicle selection.

(1) Background: The role of estrogen receptor gene 1 (ESR1) in female reproduction and lipid metabolism has been extensively investigated. However, its contribution to lipid metabolism during the development of poultry follicles remains unclear. (2) Methods: This study aimed to explore the function of ESR1 via overexpressing (ESR1ov) and interfering (ESR1si) with its expression in pre-hierarchical granulosa cells (phGCs) and hierarchical granulosa cells (poGCs). (3) Results: We successfully cloned and obtained an 1866 bp segment of the full-length CDS region of the Sichuan white goose ESR1 gene. In phGCs of the ESR1ov and ESR1si groups, there were no significant changes compared to the control group. However, in poGCs, the ESR1ov group exhibited decreased lipid deposition, triglycerides, and cholesterol compared to the control group, while the ESR1si group showed increased lipid deposition, triglycerides, and cholesterol. The expression of APOB and PPARα was significantly reduced in the ESR1ov group compared to the ESR1ov-NC group. Moreover, significant changes in the expression of ACCα, DGAT1, SCD, CPT1, and ATGL were observed between the ESR1si and ESR1si-NC group. (4) Conclusions: These findings shed light on the function and molecular mechanism of ESR1 in lipid metabolism in goose poGCs, providing a better understanding of the physiological process of goose follicular development.

Negative thermal expansion (NTE) is an intriguing physical phenomenon, which is of great significance for the high precision application. In this work, we have realized to broaden the NTE temperature zone in Mg2P2O7-based bulk material by doping Cu atom on the Mg site. A joint study of Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that there are double phases in the NTE temperature zone, and the NTE of Mg1.9Cu0.1P2O7 bulk material comes from the phase transition of α- and β-phase. The present work provides a way to optimize negative thermal expansion property in phase transition typed materials.

miRNAs are critical for steroidogenesis in granulosa cells (GCs) during ovarian follicular development. We have previously shown that miR-202-5p displays a stage-dependent expression pattern in GCs from goose follicles of different sizes, suggesting that this miRNA could be involved in the regulation of the functions of goose GCs; therefore, in this study, the effects of miR-202-5p on lipid metabolism and steroidogenesis in goose hierarchical follicular GCs (hGCs), as well as its mechanisms of action, were evaluated. Oil Red O staining and analyses of intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride contents showed that the overexpression of miR-202-5p significantly inhibited lipid deposition in hGCs; additionally, miR-202-5p significantly inhibited progesterone secretion in hGCs. A bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay indicated that Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3), which activates long-chain fatty acids for the synthesis of cellular lipids, is a potential target of miR-202-5p. ACSL3 silencing inhibited lipid deposition and estrogen secretion in hGCs. These data suggest that miR-202-5p exerts inhibitory effects on lipid deposition and steroidogenesis in goose hGCs by targeting the ACSL3 gene.

Goose meat is consumed by consumers because it contains a relatively high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). This study was conducted to explore the main differences in production performance, breast meat quality traits, and cecal microbiota compositions between the Zi goose (ZG) and Xianghai flying goose (FG). The production performance and breast meat quality trait analyses showed that compared with the ZG, the FG had a higher right breast muscle index, ileum villi height/crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), and cecum fermentation rate (higher short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) concentration); a lower abdominal fat index; a higher proportion of PUFAs; and a lower shear force. Spearman’s correlation coefficients between the cecal microbiota composition and production performance indexes suggested that the genus Faecalibacterium was positively associated with production performance; in contrast, the genus Candidatus Saccharimonas was negatively correlated with production performance; moreover, the Ruminococcus torques group, Parasutterella, and Methanobrevibacter were negatively related to the VH/CD. Taken together, in this particular trial, FG had better production performance, healthier meat quality traits, and better intestinal digestion and absorption capacities than ZG. These results not only provide a useful data reference for the production of healthy geese for human consumption but can also help guide the utilization of goose breed resources.