Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of testicular somatic cell development in pigs

Lingkai Zhang; Ming Guo; Zidong Liu; Ruifang Liu; Yi Zheng; Taiyong Yu; Yinghua Lv; Hongzhao Lu; Wenxian Zeng; Tao Zhang; Chuanying Pan

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2022.03.014

Volume 49 Issue 11

Nov. 2022

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Article Navigation > Journal of Genetics and Genomics > 2022 > 49(11): 1016-1028

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Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of testicular somatic cell development in pigs

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.03.014

a. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China;
b. College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China;
c. School of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723001, China

Funds:

Research Project of Shaanxi Science and Technology Department (2020NY-003) to Tao Zhang.

This study was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772605)

Received Date: 2021-12-04
Accepted Date: 2022-03-30
Rev Recd Date: 2022-03-26
Publish Date: 2022-04-15

Abstract

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is the process by which diploid male germ cells propagate and differentiate into haploid flagellated spermatozoa. This highly complicated process is dependent on testicular somatic cells maturation. While the role of these somatic cells in spermatogenesis is relatively well established, knowledge about their development and maturation, particularly at the molecular level, is limited. In this study, we profiled the testicular single-cell transcriptomes of Guanzhong black pigs at the age of 7, 30, 60, 90, and 150 days. Five types of Sertoli cells, five types of Leydig cells, and four types of peritubular myoid cells were identified. Histological analysis revealed the changes in proliferation levels and marker gene expressions, and the prion-like protein gene (PRND) was identified as a novel marker for Sertoli cells. Additionally, integrated analyses of porcine and human datasets revealed similarities between human and pig testicular somatic cells. Overall, the data obtained in this study contribute to the understanding of testicular development in pigs as a model species.
- Pigs,
- scRNA-seq,
- Testis somatic cells,
- Puberty

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References(66)

References

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