Analysis of circular RNA (circRNA) characteristics and identification of key circRNAs in the hypothalamus during sexual maturation in female goats

TL;DR

This study identifies key circular RNAs in the hypothalamus of female goats that may regulate sexual maturation through estrogen and oxytocin signaling.

Contribution

The study identifies novel circRNAs and their potential regulatory roles in sexual maturation via estrogen and oxytocin pathways in goats.

Findings

23,993 circRNAs were identified, with 1,052 showing differential expression during sexual maturation.

Novel_circ_0002274 may regulate sexual maturation via estrogen and oxytocin signaling pathways.

Abstract

Precocious puberty can shorten reproductive cycles, enhance reproductive capacity, and reduce feeding costs. Consequently, precocious livestock are widely utilized in cross-breeding. This study aims to elucidate the key molecular mechanisms by which circular RNA (circRNA) regulates the sexual maturation of sexually precocious goats.

In this study, we analyzed the circRNA expression profiles of hypothalamic tissue from Jining grey goats at four distinct postnatal developmental stages (1 day, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months).

A total of 23,993 circRNAs were identified across these stages, predominantly derived from exonic regions, with 1,052 circRNAs exhibiting differential expression. Additionally, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) analysis suggested that novel_circ_0002274/chi-miR-197-5p/estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and novel_circ_0002274/chi-miR-30c-3p/oxytocin/neurophysin I prepropeptide (OXT) may regulate sexual maturation in goats via the estrogen signaling pathway and the oxytocin signaling pathway.

This study contributes to understanding the function of circRNAs in hypothalamic regulation of sexual maturation and provides valuable insights for breeding superior goat breeds.

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