N-Carbamylglutamate Promotes Follicular Development by Modulating Cholesterol Metabolism in Yak Ovaries

Jia Zhou, Jingjing Du, Shuangming Yue, Benchu Xue, Lizhi Wang, Quanhui Peng and Bai Xue
Additional contact information
Jia Zhou: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jingjing Du: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Shuangming Yue: Department of Bioengineering, Sichuan Water Conservancy Vocation College, Chengdu 611845, China
Benchu Xue: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Lizhi Wang: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Quanhui Peng: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Bai Xue: Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) supplementation on the follicular development of yaks to identify potential mechanisms essential for fertility in yaks. Twelve multiparous anoestrous female yaks were randomly assigned to two groups—Control (fed with a basal diet, n = 6) and NCG (basal diet supplemented with 6.0 g day −1 NCG, n = 6). Yaks in the NCG group had higher numbers of large follicles (>5 mm in diameter) than those in the Control group. An RNA-sequencing analysis of yak ovaries revealed a total of 765 genes were differentially expressed between experimental groups, of which 181 genes were upregulated and 584 genes were downregulated following NCG supplementation. The results of a transcriptome functional analysis, qRT-PCR validation, and immunohistochemistry revealed that NCG supplementation increased angiogenesis and de novo synthesis of cholesterol in yak ovaries. NCG was also found to upregulate the gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Based on this, it was concluded that NCG supplementation promotes the follicular development of yaks mainly by affecting cholesterol metabolism to initiate steroidogenesis in ovaries. The results provide evidence for understanding the mechanisms responsible for NCG promoting follicular development of female yaks, which may contribute to the development and application of NCG in animal reproduction.

Keywords: yaks; N-carbamylglutamate; follicular development; cholesterol metabolism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/825/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/825/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:9:p:825-:d:624828

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().