Semen Quality, Testicular Cell Apoptosis, and Transcriptome Analysis Following Mild Scrotal Heat Stress in Wugu-Hu Crossbred and Hu Rams

Shikun Chen; Mingxu Jiang; Yanyun Wang; Qingjie Pan; Henry Annandale; Peter Charles Irons; Huansheng Dong

doi:10.3390/ani15050724

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Semen Quality, Testicular Cell Apoptosis, and Transcriptome Analysis Following Mild Scrotal Heat Stress in Wugu-Hu Crossbred and Hu Rams

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Semen Quality, Testicular Cell Apoptosis, and Transcriptome Analysis Following Mild Scrotal Heat Stress in Wugu-Hu Crossbred and Hu Rams

Shikun Chen, Mingxu Jiang, Yanyun Wang, Qingjie Pan, Henry Annandale, Peter Charles Irons and Huansheng Dong

Animals (Basel), Vol.15(5), 724

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050724

PMID: 40076007

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Abstract

spermatogenesis

heat stress

apoptosis

sperm

transcriptome

ram

Hu and Wugu × Hu rams underwent scrotal insulation to simulate mild heat stress, resulting in a 3.0 ± 0.1 °C increase in scrotal surface temperature. Semen samples were collected every five days from day 11 to 56, and testis samples immediately after insulation. Both breeds experienced similar semen quality reductions and recovery trends, including reduced motility, concentration and the percentage of morphologically normal, but on days 41 and 46, Wugu-Hu rams exhibited significantly lower sperm motility than Hu rams (< 0.05). Wugu-Hu rams demonstrate more transcriptomic changes. Further GO analysis revealed enrichment in spermatogenesis-related processes, while KEGG analysis identified Oocyte meiosis and cell cycle pathways, with a downregulation of key genes (CDK1, CDK2, CDC20, and PLK1) indicating impaired meiosis in Wugu-Hu rams. In contrast, Hu rams showed minimal transcriptional changes, contrary to the transcriptomic results. The significantly increased apoptosis rate of Wugu-Hu sheep testicular cells (< 0.05) suggests compensatory or post-transcriptional mechanisms mitigating functional impacts caused by transcriptomic changes. The conclusion is that mild scrotal heat stress affects sperm quality and testicular gene expression. Wugu-Hu rams demonstrate greater transcriptomic sensitivity, but this does not show significant differences in semen quality recovery due to the compensatory mechanism of cell apoptosis.

Details

Title: Semen Quality, Testicular Cell Apoptosis, and Transcriptome Analysis Following Mild Scrotal Heat Stress in Wugu-Hu Crossbred and Hu Rams
Authors/Creators: Shikun Chen - Qingdao Agricultural University
Mingxu Jiang - Qingdao Agricultural University
Yanyun Wang - Qingdao Agricultural University
Qingjie Pan - Qingdao Agricultural University
Henry Annandale - Murdoch University, School of Veterinary Medicine
Peter Charles Irons - Murdoch University
Huansheng Dong - Qingdao Agricultural University
Publication Details: Animals (Basel), Vol.15(5), 724
Publisher: MDPI
Number of pages: 22
Grant note: 2023TSGC0540 / SHANDONG PROVINCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES INNOVATION CA-PABILITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 1619003 / RESEARCH AND INNOVATION TEAM FOR THE PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION OF ANIMAL GERMPLASM RESOURCES RESEARCH PROJECT
Identifiers: 991005753932607891
Murdoch Affiliation: College of Environmental and Life Sciences; School of Veterinary Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.81 Reproductive Biology; 1.81.176 Male Fertility
Web Of Science research areas: Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science; Veterinary Sciences; Zoology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science