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Oviposition characteristics of Magang geese: Daily egg-laying pattern (A), oviposition interval distribution (B) and relationship between oviposition interval and egg sequence (summarized from 527 ovipositions). The number atop the bar in graph C depicts the number of observations.
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Egg laying in Magang geese is characterized by extended interruption between clutches and lowing laying rate. Both the ovarian follicular development and ovulation characteristics, and the associated endocrine and molecular regulatory mechanisms involved are poorly understood, but could be important for guiding development of molecule aided selecti...
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... characteristics Figure 1A depicts the time distribution of eggs laid during a day, calculated from 527 eggs laid by 69 geese during one laying-incubation cycle. The majority of eggs were laid during the day, comprising 73.1% of all eggs laid. ...Context 2
... 26.9% of ovipositions occurred at night (18:00 pm to 6:00 am). The brief drop in oviposition around 9:00 am was associated with the lights coming on at Figure 1A), which caused nesting geese to leave the nests for feed and water. The average oviposition interval, calculated from re- cordings of 498 ovipositions by 69 geese, was 46.8 ± 1.4 h, varying from 37 h to 55 h. ...Context 3
... average oviposition interval, calculated from re- cordings of 498 ovipositions by 69 geese, was 46.8 ± 1.4 h, varying from 37 h to 55 h. Approximately 10% of the intervals were exceptionally longer, greater than 55 h, possibly due to the stress caused by catching and col- lection of blood samples ( Figure 1B). Along the laying sequence, which lasted from 4 to 12 eggs between geese, oviposition intervals varied close to 48 h until the 8 th interval or before the 9 th oviposition. ...Context 4
... the laying sequence, which lasted from 4 to 12 eggs between geese, oviposition intervals varied close to 48 h until the 8 th interval or before the 9 th oviposition. Thereafter, the inter- val tended to lengthen towards the end of laying and the start of incubation behavior ( Figure 1C). ...Citations
... Oviposition usually occurs 15 to 30 min before ovulation. The ovulationoviposition cycle in chickens and quails is 24 to 27 h (Nakao et al., 2007), whereas it is approximately 48 h in geese (Qin et al., 2013). The ovulation of the largest (F1) preovulatory follicle in avian ovaries is triggered by a pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) surge caused by the positive feedback of progesterone (Johnson et al., 1985). ...
The ovarian circadian clock plays a regulatory role in the avian ovulation-oviposition cycle. However, little is known regarding the ovarian circadian clock of geese. In this study, we investigated rhythmic changes in clock genes over a 48-h period and identified potential clock-controlled genes involved in progesterone synthesis in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. The results showed that BMAL1, CRY1, and CRY2, as well as 4 genes (LHR, STAR, CYP11A1, and HSD3B) involved in progesterone synthesis exhibited rhythmic expression patterns in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells over a 48-h period. Knockdown of BMAL1 decreased the progesterone concentration and downregulated STAR mRNA and protein levels in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Overexpression of BMAL1 increased the progesterone concentration and upregulated the STAR mRNA level in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the BMAL1/CLOCK complex activated the transcription of goose STAR gene by binding to an E-box motif. These results suggest that the circadian clock is involved in the regulation of progesterone synthesis in goose ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells by orchestrating the transcription of steroidogenesis-related genes.
... The development of follicles is mainly controlled by strict internal complex regulation, including the expression of hormones [4], cytokines [5], signaling pathways [6], etc. During follicular development, a series of key events such as gene transcription and protein expression cascade and are controlled by speci c gene expression, which is an intrinsic factor regulating follicle recruitment, selection, and apoptosis [7]. ...
In poultry ovaries, the development of follicles is strictly and complex regulated by a series of factors such as genes, hormones, and cytokines. However, the specific molecular regulatory mechanism is still unclear. To identify the dominant genes controlling duck follicular development, the small white follicle (SWF), the small yellow follicle (SYF), the small yellow follicle (SYF), large yellow follicle (LYF), F6, F5, F4, F3 and F2 were collected for RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. There were 2530, 3893, and 168 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SWF and LWF, SWF and SYF, LWF and SYF, respectively. 1118, 3514 and 1034 DEGs were respectively identified between LYF and F6, LYF and F5, F6 and F5, 311, 1845, and 1601 DEGs were respectively identified between F4 and F3, F4 and F2, F3 and F2. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that cell adhesion, biological adhesion, DNA-binding transcription factor activity, transcription regulator activity, Focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, cellular homeostasis, regulation of biological quality, homeostatic process, response to external stimulus, PPAR signaling pathway, Nitrogen metabolism, Arachidonic acid metabolism (P-adjust < 0.05). Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed that, SPP1, RUNX2, CARTPT, LOX, ITGA8, FABP7, SLC43A3 and GPX2 might be key candidate genes for follicular development in duck. The current study identified dominant genes and pathways contributing to our understanding of duck follicular development.
... One study classified white follicles as LWFs with a diameter greater than 6 mm in Zhedong white geese, yellow follicles as SYFs with a diameter of 10-20 mm, and yellow follicles as hierarchical follicles with a diameter greater than 20 mm [12]. Another study reported that white follicles with a diameter of less than 6 mm in Magang geese were LWFs, yellow follicles with a diameter of less than 8 mm were SYFs, and yellow follicles were hierarchical follicles with a diameter of more than 9 mm [13]. Tianfu meat geese have 8-10 mm follicles that have been classified as SYFs [8]. ...
The selection of follicles determines the reproductive performance of birds, but the process of follicle selection in geese is still elusive. This study focuses on Yangzhou geese during the egg-laying period and divides the follicular development process into three stages: small follicle development, follicle selection, and follicle maturation. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on granulosa cells from large white follicles, small yellow follicles, and F5 and F4 follicles. In addition, we selected the transcripts that remained unchanged during the development and maturation of small follicles but significantly changed during the follicular selection stage as the transcript collection that plays an important role in the follicular selection process. Then, we performed functional analysis on these transcripts and constructed a ceRNA network. The results showed that during the follicular selection stage, the number of differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs was the highest. In addition, miR-222-3p, miR-2954-3p, miR-126-5p, miR-2478, and miR-425-5p are potential key core regulatory molecules in the selection stage of goose follicles. These results can provide a reference for a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of the goose follicle selection process and potential targets for the precise regulation of goose egg production performance.
... However, a higher average annual egg production was reported by Clauer and Skinner (2007) in Embden, African and Chinese geese breed. A higher annual egg production were recorded in Chinese and Zhedong goose breed by Goussi and Fortomaris (2011);and Qin et al. (2013) and Yu et al. (2016), respectively. White, Italian geese was observed to have a higher average annual egg production by Kuzniacka et al. 2019. ...
... The indigenous geese of Assam were found to be quite broody. Broodiness character was found to be very common in some Chinese goose breeds, such as Zhedong geese and Magang geese which was found to be almost over 90% (Qin et al. 2013 andYu et al. 2016) and they found that the geese kept incubating in the nest even if the eggs taken away. However, Huoyan geese show relative weak broodiness (China National Commission of Animal Genetic Resources 2011). ...
The present study aimed to phenotypically characterize the indigenous geese of Assam, in North East India. These geese were observed to have two types of plumage colour (white and cinnamon) and plumage pattern (solid and bordered); and three different bill colours (black, orange, yellow). The shank and feet colour was found to be mostly orange and sometimes yellow. The eye colour was found to be black, brown and sometimes grey and skin colour as white. The least squares means for body weight at hatching, 4, 6-8 and 12 months and above age were 0.087±0.001, 3.030±0.022, 3.480±0.055 and 3.970±0.025 kg, respectively. The average age at first egg, annual egg production, clutch size and clutch interval were 320.196±2.882 days, 19.886±0.306, 9.897±0.143 and 59.206±0.531 days. Average fertility and hatchability percentage under natural condition were found to be 87.11% and 80.53%, respectively. The study revealed that the indigenous geese of Assam are heavier birds with high potential for meat production with two colour variants, viz. White and Cinnamon in the study area covering four districts. The study generated baseline information on physical characteristics, productive and reproductive performances of indigenous geese of Assam under native field condition which would be of great help in documentation and development of breed descriptors for registration, improvement and conservation.
... The development of avian follicles is divided into prehierarchical and hierarchical follicles (Liu and Zhang, 2008). The hierarchical follicles can be typed as F1 to F6 depending on their diameter size in chickens and goose (Qin et al., 2013;Johnson, 2015). The prehierarchical follicles are classified as small yellow follicles, large white follicles and small white follicles (Yang et al., 2019). ...
Paired pigeons only lay 2 eggs in a laying period, which is closely related to ovarian follicle development, but this process is not well understood. In this study, 60 pairs of 12-mo-old White King pigeons were selected and serum and follicles were collected at 4 stages of laying interval (LI), including the first (LI1), the third (LI3), the fifth (LI5), and the seventh day (LI7). Morphological results showed that paired pigeons normally had 2 preovulatory follicles and the second-largest follicle (F2) developed from LI3 and had been selected in LI5. Prehierarchical follicles were coupled and hierarchical, which was in accordance with its clutch size. The P4 concentration increased gradually from LI1 to LI5, reaching a maximum of 30.67 ng/mL in LI5 and decreasing to 27.83 ng/mL in LI7 (P < 0.05). The levels of T in LI1 and LI5 were higher than LI3 and LI7 (P < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in E2 in LI (P > 0.05), but it stayed at high levels. In the TCs of the largest follicle (F1), HSD3B1 mRNA and HSD17B1 mRNA levels peaked in LI7. The expression pattern of CYP17A1 and CYP19A1 was similar, increasing from LI3 to LI5 and then decreasing. In the TCs of F2, the expressions of HSD3B1 and CYP17A1 had no significant difference between LI5 and LI7 (P > 0.05), while the expression pattern of HSD17B1 and CYP19A1 was the opposite. In TCs of SF1, HSD3B1 mRNA level peaked in LI3 while CYP19A1 mRNA levels peaked in LI7. The expression of CYP17A1 had a minor change (P > 0.05) and the expression pattern of HSD17B1 was similar to F1. It was concluded that the morphological characteristics of follicles during the LI for the first time, including the number and diameter of small follicles (SFs) and hierarchical follicles in pigeon and the concentrations of steroid hormones and expressions of steroidogenic genes in TCs of different follicles could explain the growth and selection of 2 preovulatory follicles. This study facilitates further research into the regulation of ovulation and egg production in pigeons.
... China is the central region of goose raising, and it is also the world's largest meat goose production country [1]. Magang goose enjoys a high reputation in Guangdong Province for its excellent growth performance and meat quality, and its breeding scale is the largest, accounting for about 80% of the total number of geese raised in the province [2]. In the process of goose breeding, due to the influence of environmental factors, such as temperature and breeding scale, more harmful bacteria easily breed in water, which leads to an increase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration in goose blood, reducing the reproductive performance of geese and the quality of the goslings [3]. ...
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the main virulence factors of Gram-negative bacteria. In the process of waterfowl breeding, an inflammatory reaction due to LPS infection is easily produced, which leads to a decline in waterfowl performance. The liver plays a vital role in the immune response and the removal of toxic components. Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanism of liver injury induced by LPS in goose. In this study, a total of 100 1-day-old goslings were randomly divided into a control group and LPS group after 3 days of pre-feeding. On days 21, 23, and 25 of the formal experiment, the control group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL normal saline, and the LPS group was intraperitoneally injected with LPS 2 mg/(kg body weight) once a day. On day 25 of the experiment, liver samples were collected 3 h after the injection of saline and LPS. The results of histopathology and biochemical indexes showed that the livers of the LPS group had liver morphological structure destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration, and the levels of ALT and AST were increased. Next, RNA sequencing analysis was used to determine the abundances and characteristics of the transcripts, as well as the associated somatic mutations and alternative splicing. We screened 727 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with p < 0.05 and |log2(Fold Change)| ≥ 1, as the thresholds; GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that LPS-induced liver injury may be involved in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, FoxO, and PPAR signaling pathway. Finally, we intersected the genes enriched in the key pathway of LPS-induced liver injury with the top 50 key genes in protein–protein interaction networks to obtain 28 more critical genes. Among them, 17 genes were enriched in Toll-like signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggest that LPS-induced liver injury in geese may be the result of the joint action of Toll-like receptor, MAPK, NOD-like receptor, FoxO, and PPAR signaling pathway. Among them, the TLR7-mediated MAPK signaling pathway plays a major role.
... PRL and GH play an essential role in regulating metabolism, growth, development, and reproduction, as well as directly or indirectly affect individual various systems, including digestive, reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems (Bahadoran et al., 2019). In poultry, PRL and GH are related to growth, development, and reproduction (Nie et al., 2005;Qin et al., 2013;Wilkanowska et al., 2014). However, some studies have shown that after chicken infected with some pathogens, such as Eimeria tenella (E. ...
Prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) exhibit important roles in the immune system maintenance. In poultry, PRL mainly plays its roles in nesting, hatching, and reproduction, while GH is primarily responding to body weight, fat formation and feed conversion. In this review, we attempt to provide a critical overview of the relationship between PRL and GH, PRLR and GHR, and the immune response of poultry. We also propose a hypothesis that PRL, GH and their receptors might be used by viruses as viral receptors. This may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of viral infection and host immune response.
... The Magang goose is a typical representative of goose species in south China, and also a typical short-day breeder. Long light inhibits its reproductive activity while short light promotes reproductive activity (Huang et al., 2008;Qin et al., 2013;Lei et al., 2020). In the current experiment, the seasonal alteration of breeding activities of Magang geese was successfully regulated by an artificial light treatment, which again confirmed that light was the main regulatory factor of seasonal breeding activities of Magang geese, consistent with the results of previous studies (Shi et al., 2007;Huang et al., 2008). ...
Long-day photoperiods affect expression of OPN5 and the TSH-DIO2/DIO3 pathway in Magang goose ganders, Poultry Science (2022), doi: https://doi. ABSTRACT This study sought to understand the regulation mechanism of OPN5 through the TSH-DIO2/DIO3 pathway mediated photoperiod on the breeding activity of short-day breeding birds. In this study, the reproductive activity of Magang goose was regulated by artificial light, and the reproductive activity of the ganders were determined according to the daily laying rate of female geese. The testicular development and the serum reproductive hormone concentrations of ganders were measured during the reproductive period (day 0), the reproductive degeneration period (days 13 and 27) and the resting period (day45). The mRNA and protein expression patterns of OPN5, the HPG axis reproductive genes, and TSH-DIO2/DIO3 pathway related genes were examined. Results showed that the laying rate of geese and the gonadal indices (GSI) decreased gradually after the photoperiod increased. Histological observation found that the spermatogenic function of the testis was normal on days 0 and 13, while degeneration occurred by days 27 and 45.Serum testosterone, FSH, and LH concentration showed a slight increase on day13, followed by a sharp decrease on days 27 and 45 (P<0.01), while PRL concentrations were low on days 0 and 13, and increased rapidly on days 27 and 45 (P<0.01).The expression pattern of GnRH, FSH, LH, and THRβ mRNA were similar, with high levels on days 0 and 13 and a decreasing trend on days 27 and 45 (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and GnRHR mRNA levels were higher on day13 (P<0.05), but then had decreased by days 27 and 45 (P<0.01). The expression pattern of GnIH and GnIHR was similar, which was opposite to that of GnRHR. VIP, PRL, and PRLR increased gradually and peaked on day 45 (P<0.01). The expression trend of TRH, TSHβ, and DIO2 was similar to that of GnRHR, and the expression abundance increased on day 13, and then decreased on days 27 and 45. GnRH protein expression was significantly higher than during the other three periods (P<0.01) while the GnIH protein levels were 3 extremely low on day 0, had gradually increased by day 13, and significantly increased by days 27 and 45 (P<0.01). The protein expression trends of THR and DIO2 were similar to that of GNIH. DIO3 protein expression was low on days 0 and 13, and increased by days 27 and 45. These results suggest that when the photoperiod increased, the hypothalamus OPN5 gene and protein were up-regulated and the pituitary TSHβ, TSHR, and hypothalamus THRβ, TRH, and DIO2 were down-regulated, and thus the reproductive activity of geese was inhibited.
... The annual global consumption of goose meat is approximately 2.23 million tons (3). Goose have a significant role in the agricultural economy, and China is the world's largest goose breeding country, with approximately 93% of the world's goose production (4). In recent years, as human demand for eggs and meat are increased, and the scale and density of global livestock are also increased rapidly. ...
In the lumen of blood vessels, there are large numbers of erythrocytes, which are approximately 95% of the total blood cells. Although the function of erythrocytes is to transport oxygen in the organism, recent studies have shown that mammalian and teleost erythrocytes are involved in the immune response against bacterial infections. However, the immune mechanisms used by avian erythrocytes are not yet clear. Here, we demonstrated that erythrocytes from goose have the ability to phagocytose as well as conduct antimicrobial activity. Firstly, we revealed the phagocytosis or adhesion activity of goose erythrocytes for latex beads 0.1-1.0 μm in diameter by fluorescence microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The low cytometry results also proved that goose erythrocytes had a wide range of phagocytic or adhesion activity for different bacteria. Followed, the low cytometry analysis data further explored that the goose erythrocytes contain the ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in response to bacterial stimulation, and also up-regulated the expression of NOX family includes NOX1 and NOX5. Finally, we also found that goose erythrocytes showed a powerful antibacterial activity against all the three bacteria, meanwhile the stimulation of three kinds of bacteria up-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors, and increased the production of antioxidant enzymes to protect the cells from oxidative damage. Herein, our results demonstrate that goose Erythrocytes possess a certain phagocytic capacity and antioxidant system, and that the antimicrobial activity of erythrocytes can occurred through the production of unique respiratory burst against foreign pathogenic bacteria, which provides new clues to the interaction between bacteria and avian erythrocytes.
... While the corresponding value was 1 peak (46 h) in Hungarian geese. Results of the present study were similar to the findings of Qin et al. (2013), who reported that the oviposition intervals of geese were about 48 h. The average clutch length of Zhedong white geese were approximately 14.07 d, significantly shorter than Hungarian geese (19.15 d) (F(df) = 6.49(2), ...
Egg laying is an important reproductive behavior of female poultry. Here, we investigated the laying behavior and clutch traits of different goose breeds, specifically, Zhedong white geese (Anser cygnoides), Sichuan white geese (Anser cygnoides) and Hungarian geese (Anser anser). A total of 108 geese in their first laying year were selected. Their laying rhythm was monitored daily by video cameras during the egg-laying period. The results showed that the prenatal behavior included nest hunting, nest site selection and nesting, as well as laying behavior included prenatal crouching, anal contraction until oviposition and postnatal resting. There were some differences in laying times among the three breeds. Approximately 70% of the eggs were laid between 03:00 and 12:00 in Zhedong white geese and Sichuan white geese, while the Hungarian geese laid throughout the day. Also, the clutch length and the oviposition interval differed among these three breeds. Their average clutch lengths were approximately 14.07, 12.14 and 19.15 days in Zhedong white geese, Sichuan white geese and Hungarian geese, respectively. While their oviposition intervals showed 2 peaks (39 and 47h), 3 peaks (41, 50 and 53h) and 1 peak (46h). Moreover, there were significant correlation between egg yield and clutch length in Zhedong white geese (r=0.951), Sichuan white geese (r=0.987) and Hungarian geese (r=0.991), respectively. Taken together, the difference in laying behavior among the breeds was mainly reflected in laying time and oviposition intervals, Zhedong white geese and Sichuan white geese have egg laying time preference and short oviposition intervals, which was helpful not only to understand egg-laying process, but also to manage egg-laying geese scientifically and improve egg production.
