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. 2019 May 22;20(1):408.
doi: 10.1186/s12864-019-5801-3.

Identification of key genes and molecular mechanisms associated with low egg production of broiler breeder hens in ad libitum

Zehui Wei  1 , Pengcheng Li  1 , Sijia Huang  1 , Purevsuren Lkhagvagarav  1 , Mengqi Zhu  1 , Chuanyu Liang  1 , Cunling Jia  2
Affiliations

Identification of key genes and molecular mechanisms associated with low egg production of broiler breeder hens in ad libitum

Zehui Wei et al. BMC Genomics. .

Abstract

Background: Overfeeding reduces laying performance in broiler breeder hens, which is associated with obesity, hepatic steatosis and systemic inflammation. To unravel the underlying mechanisms governing the effect of feeding regimes on energy metabolism and egg production, a transcriptomics approach was carried out for screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ovary, liver and adipose tissues of broiler chickens under ad libitum and restricted feeding.

Results: It showed that 289, 388 and 204 DEGs were identified in the adipose, liver and ovary, respectively. These DEGs were significantly enriched in phagosome pathway, lipid transport, activity and nutrient reservoir activity in ovary; steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 pathways in adipose tissue; and the metabolic pathways, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and Jak-STAT signaling pathway in liver. Estrogen receptor 1, identified as one of important hubs by constructing PPI network, was up-regulated in ad libitum group, which would make more apolipoproteins be transferred to ovary.

Conclusions: High expression of VTGs, APOB, CYBB and CTSS in ovary would induce excess lipid deposit, oxidative stress and potential damage to ovulation. Our results contribute to understanding effects of feeding regimes on metabolic regulation during egg production of broiler breeder hens and also provide new evidence of metabolic regulation from integrated multi-tissue processes.

Keywords: Ad libitum; Adipose; Gallus gallus; Liver; Ovary; Restricted feeding; Transcriptome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Volcano plot displaying differentially expressed genes between ad libitum and restricted feeding group in three tissues. (a) Adipose tissue, (b) Ovary, (c) Liver. Significantly up-regulated genes were marked by red (Up) (FDR < 0.1); significantly down-regulated genes were marked by green (Down) (FDR < 0.1); insignificantly expressed genes were marked by black (Not)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
GO analysis and KEGG pathway output of DEGs between ad libitum and restricted feeding group. (a) Ovary, (b) Adipose tissue, (c) Liver. BP, Biological Process; CC, Cellular Component; MF, Molecular Function
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison and correlation analysis of differentially expressed genes between qRT-PCR and RNA-seq. (a) Comparison of differentially expressed genes level from qRT-PCR and RNA-seq. (b) The correlation of differentially expressed genes between qRT-PCR and RNA-seq. CHGB, chromogranin B; APOB, apolipoprotein B; SOST, sclerostin; GAL, galanin and GMAP; SST, somatostatin; ACTC1, actin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1; CHAC1, ChaC glutathione specific gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase 1; SIK1, salt inducible kinase 1; ANGPTL4, angiopoietin like 4; RRM2, ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2. The gene expression was normalized as fold change using 18S ribosomal RNA (n = 3 per group)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
PPI network for DEGs in adipose, ovary and liver tissues. (a) Adipose; (b) Ovary; (c) Liver. In the network, the difference of interaction degree is shown by the color. Yellow dot indicates the node has interaction degree ≥10 considered as hub genes. Black dot indicates the node is differential expression gene. PPI, protein/protein interaction; DEGs, differentially expressed genes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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