Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42185968›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2026

Identification of candidate genes and ceRNA networks of HPG axis in regulating sexual precocity of roosters by whole transcriptomic sequencing.

Hai Xiang, Xiangkun Li, Xiaoxu Sun, Zhengfen Zhang, Jixiang Wei, Zhijie Liu, Zheng Ma, Siyu Chen, Junwei Gou, Fei Ye and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Hai XiangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Xiangkun LiGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Xiaoxu SunGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Zhengfen ZhangGuangdong Tinoo's Foods Group Co., Ltd., Qingyuan, 511827, China.
Jixiang WeiGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Zhijie LiuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Zheng MaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Siyu ChenGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Junwei GouGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China.
Fei YeGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China. yefei0831@fosu.edu.cn.
Hua LiGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225, China. okhuali@fosu.edu.cn.

Funding

Foundation of Qingcheng District Science and Technology 2020A01Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation 2022A1515012014Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation 2022A1515111078National Natural Science Foundation of China 32102538STI2030-Major Projects 2023ZD04064
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrecocious puberty in chickens is an important biological trait regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The comb height of roosters is an indicator of precocious puberty in breeding. However, the underlying mechanisms of precocious puberty, particularly in roosters, remain underexplored.

resultThis study utilized whole-transcriptome sequencing of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and testicle to identify candidate genes and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks associated with precocious puberty. The result showed that early sexually mature roosters exhibited more developed testicles and comb, along with elevated levels of gonadotropin -releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. A total of 108 differential expressed genes (DEGs), 18 differential expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and 54 differential expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified in the hypothalamus; 190 DEGs, 27 DElncRNAs, and 45 DEmiRNAs in the pituitary; and 339 DEGs, 48 DElncRNAs, and 626 DEmiRNAs in the testicle. Notably, NMRK2 and PSMD14 were co-expressed across these tissues, with higher expression in sexually mature roosters. Furthermore, 13 genes including PCDH9, RAB3C, MYO5A, SYNE2, ATP8B5 and EIF4G1, were co-expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary, while 17 genes including SMG7, PTPRS, C20ORF194 and RNF213 were co-expressed in the pituitary and testicle. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified key regulatory genes for sexual maturation, including MYO5A, NMRK2, AKT3, CREB1, and EIF4G1 in the hypothalamus; ERBB4, MYO5A, PTPRF, and CDK6 in the pituitary; and SRC, PSMD14, UBE2O, and PIK3CB in the testicle. The ceRNA network TCONS_00062798/TCONS_0008908-gga-miR-206-AKT3 in the hypothalamus regulates GnRH secretion, promoting sexual maturation via ErbB and MAPK signaling pathways. The ceRNA network circ_02349 0-TCONS_00071970- gga-miR-183/gga-miR-200a-3p/novel-m29153p-CDK6 of the pituitary may inhibit LH release by disrupting the cell cycle, reducing sexual maturation. In the testicle, the ceRNA network novel_circ_022575/novel_circ_006317/ENSGALT0 0000076697/ENSGALT00000046820-miR-16-x/gga-miR-16c-5p-SRC regulates testosterone secretion through PPAR, TGF-β, and mTOR signaling pathways, indirectly influencing GnRH and gonadotropin release.

conclusionThese findings identified candidate genes and ceRNA networks associated with sexual precocity regulation in the HPG axis of the rooster, not only providing novel mechanisms underlying rooster sexual precocity but also highlighting the complex interplay between tissues in the HPG axis.

Indexed as

ChickensGene Expression ProfilingGene Regulatory NetworksTranscriptomeAnimalsHypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal AxisHypothalamusMaleMicroRNAsPituitary GlandRNA, Competitive EndogenousMicroRNAsRNA, Competitive EndogenousCeRNA regulatory networkChickenHPG axisSexual precocityWhole transcriptome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID42185968
PMCPMC13390256

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.