Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
Abstract
Sexual maturity and fertility in female animals are key components for enhancing reproductive efficiency and breeding strategies in livestock production; however, the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying these processes remain incompletely characterized. In the present study, to investigate the molecular regulations associated with fertility in goats, RNA-Seq data from the ovarian tissue of female Jining Black Grey goats at four developmental stages (birth, two months, four months, and six months old) were analyzed. Genes exhibiting upregulation and downregulation were separately classified. For each group, miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks and related functional modules were reconstructed. Hub genes were identified based on two approaches: multi-partite regulatory network analysis, which led to the identification of hub genes CCDC39, CCDC40, CCDC65, DNAH1, DNAI2, LRGUK, and LOC102177295. Additionally, by assessing gene participation levels in biological pathways, DNAH2, DNAH6, DNAH7, DNAH5, ENSCHIP00000030934, and DNAI2 emerged as hub genes. The gene DNAI2 was identified as a hub gene by both methods. Moreover, two hub miRNAs, mir-187-5p and mir-147a, were identified within the upregulated gene network, demonstrated prominent interactions with their target genes. These genes are involved in various biological processes including ciliary motility, dynein arm assembly, organelle organization, microtubule-based transport, germ cell differentiation, and acrosome activation. The findings of this study provide deeper insights into the genetic regulation affecting sexual maturity and fertility in female goats and may serve as a foundation for developing improved strategies for reproductive management in female goat populations.
Aslzare Razlighi, Z. , Miraei Ashtiani, S. R. , Sadeghi, M. and Ghafouri, F. (2025). Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches. Iranian Journal of animal Science, (), -. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
MLA
Aslzare Razlighi, Z. , , Miraei Ashtiani, S. R. , , Sadeghi, M. , and Ghafouri, F. . "Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches", Iranian Journal of animal Science, , , 2025, -. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
HARVARD
Aslzare Razlighi, Z., Miraei Ashtiani, S. R., Sadeghi, M., Ghafouri, F. (2025). 'Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches', Iranian Journal of animal Science, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
CHICAGO
Z. Aslzare Razlighi , S. R. Miraei Ashtiani , M. Sadeghi and F. Ghafouri, "Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches," Iranian Journal of animal Science, (2025): -, doi: 10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
VANCOUVER
Aslzare Razlighi, Z., Miraei Ashtiani, S. R., Sadeghi, M., Ghafouri, F. Identification of Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in Sexual Maturity and Fertility of Female Goats Based on Regulatory Network Analysis and Functional Pathway Approaches. Iranian Journal of animal Science, 2025; (): -. doi: 10.22059/ijas.2025.399771.654093
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