Rapid communication: MicroRNA co-expression network reveals apoptosis in the reproductive tract during molting in laying hens

J. Kim, W. Lim, F. W. Bazer, G. Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the regulatory mechanisms of molting and recrudescence via studying the micro-RNA (miRNA) expression in the oviduct of laying hens. We performed a cDNA microarray analysis in the magnum tissue from the oviduct to identify the whole miRNA profiles through the molting and recrudescence periods. A total of 35 laying hens (47-wk-old) were divided into 7 groups (0 d: a control group; 6 and 12 d: 2 molting-period groups fed on a high-zinc diet; and 20, 25, 30, and 35 d: 4 recrudes-cence-period groups fed on a normal diet after a 12-d period on a high-zinc diet). An miRNA co-expression network (miRCN) was generated using the differen- tially expressed miRNA (DEM) according to the entire data integration. The significantly co-expressed miR-NA (n = 111) were highly differentially expressed from 12 to 20 d, which was a transition period between molting and recrudescence, while their expression patterns were contrary to the estrogen changes. The targets of highly connected miRNA (n = 12) indicated the significant biological pathways and gene ontology (GO) terms, such as MAPK and Wnt signaling and magne-sium-ion binding, which are associated with apoptotic activities. These results suggest that the miRNA of the miRCN might play a role in the apoptotic progression of the reproductive tract during molting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5100-5104
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Animal Science
Volume95
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Nov

Keywords

  • Co-expression network
  • Laying hens
  • MiRNA
  • Molting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics

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