Whole transcriptome analysis revealed the regulatory network and related pathways of non-coding RNA regulating ovarian atrophy in broody hens

Poultry broodiness can cause ovarian atresia, which has a detrimental impact on egg production. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have become one of the most talked-about topics in life sciences because of the increasing evidence of their novel biological roles in regulatory systems. However, the molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs functions and processes in chicken ovarian development remain largely unknown. Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing of the ovaries of broodiness and laying chickens was thus performed to identify the ncRNA regulatory mechanisms associated with ovarian atresia in chickens. Subsequent analysis revealed that the ovaries of laying chickens and those with broodiness had 40 differentially expressed MicroRNA (miRNAs) (15 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated), 379 differentially expressed Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) (213 up-regulated and 166 down-regulated), and 129 differentially expressed circular RNA (circRNAs) (63 up-regulated and 66 down-regulated). The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network analysis further revealed the involvement of ECM-receptor interaction, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, renin secretion, gap junction, insulin secretion, serotonergic synapse, and IL-17 signaling pathways in broodiness. Upon further analysis, it became evident that THBS1 and MYLK are significant candidate genes implicated in the regulation of broodiness. The expression of these genes is linked to miR-155-x, miR-211-z, miR-1682-z, gga-miR-155, and gga-miR-1682, as well as to the competitive binding of novel_circ_014674 and MSTRG.3306.4. The findings of this study reveal the existence of a regulatory link between non-coding RNAs and their competing mRNAs, which provide a better comprehension of the ncRNA function and processes in chicken ovarian development.