The Different Expression Of Nine Genes Related To The Reproduction Of Ovary And Uterus In Xiang Pig

The number of litters is an important index to measure the reproductive performance of sows and is closely related to the efficiency of large-scale pig industry.Litter size belongs to the low heritability and sex-limited expression traits,which controlled by several major genes and many minor genes.The conventional breeding techniques get a slow enhancement in litter size and require to using molecular marker-assisted breeding techniques.However,who causes the difference in breeding ability between pig breeds? It has not been clear so far.In this study,9 candidate genes were screened out from the ovary transcriptome of Xiang pig using the transcriptome sequencing technology.Three of these genes were enriched in the GnRH pathway,including EGFR,Raf1 and NRAS.To uncover the regulation mechanism of the fecundity of local pig breeds,we compared the expression level of these genes in the ovary and uterus of Xiang pig and Yorkshire pig via fluorescence quantitative PCR method.The main results achieved were as follows:1.The expressions levels of EGFR,FSHR,NRAS,Raf1,SLPI,INHA,SERPINE1,MSMB and PTGFR genes were much diverse in ovary and uterus of pigs during estrous and non-estrus stages.The expression level of SERPINE1 gene was not different between two stages of ovary and uterus.The PTGFR mRNA level was only significantly different in uterine,while the expression levels of three genes of SLPI,INHA and MSMB were significantly different between the estrus and non-estrus periods in the two tissues.EGFR,FSHR,Raf1 and NRAS genes were very diverse in ovary and uterus of Xiang pigs during estrus and non-estrus periods and did not reach significant level.2.Compared with the ovary tissues of Yorkshire Pig during non-estrus period,the expression levels of SLPI,INHA,SERPINE1,MSMB,PTGFR,EGFR,FSHR,NRAS and Raf1 genes were significantly different in ovary.Compared with the uterus tissues of Yorkshire Pig during non-estrus period,the expression levels of EGFR,FSHR,NRAS,SLPI,SERPINE1 genes were significantly different,the others genes showed no significant changes.To sum up,these results indicated that nine of these candidate genes were significantly expressed,and GnRH pathway adjusted the functions of the Xiang pig ovary and uterus,which further affecting the litter size traits of the Xiang pig.The results of this study will help to reveal the molecular mechanism of the reproductive characteristics of Xiang pig and lay a theoretical foundation for the breeding and protection of local pig breeds.