Single-Cell Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Molecular Expression Differences and Marker Genes in Testes during the Sexual Maturation of Mongolian Horses.
Authors: Liu Yuanyi, Du Ming, Li Xinyu, Zhang Lei, Zhao Bilig, Wang Na, Dugarjaviin Manglai
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to map transcriptional changes in testicular tissue from prepubertal (1-year-old) and sexually mature (10-year-old) Mongolian horses, identifying 25 distinct cell clusters representing 10 cell types including spermatogonial and supporting somatic populations. The analysis revealed fundamentally different molecular signatures between the two developmental stages: immature testes showed gene expression patterns supporting cellular architecture and tissue development, whilst mature testes demonstrated robust expression of genes driving active spermatogenesis. Stage-specific marker genes were identified for the first time in this breed—APOA1, AMH, TAC3, INHA, SPARC, and SOX9 in immature animals, and PRM1, PRM2, PRSS37, HMGB4, and H1-9 in mature animals—providing molecular benchmarks that could enable earlier detection of reproductive readiness. For breeding programmes and stud management, these findings offer potential diagnostic applications: rather than relying solely on behavioural and physical markers, producers might develop targeted genetic or protein-based assays to assess sexual maturation status more objectively, particularly valuable for young colts being evaluated for breeding soundness or training allocation. The dataset also establishes a foundational reference for comparative reproductive biology across horse breeds and populations.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Identified molecular markers could potentially enable earlier assessment of sexual maturity status in breeding stallions, supporting management decisions in equine breeding programs
- •Understanding testicular gene expression patterns during maturation may inform veterinary reproductive assessments and help optimize breeding soundness evaluations
Key Findings
- •Single-cell sequencing identified 25 cell clusters and 10 cell types in testicular tissue, with distinct differences between 1-year-old and 10-year-old Mongolian horses
- •Gene expression patterns in immature horses were associated with cellular infrastructure, while mature horses showed patterns specific to spermatogenesis
- •Six marker genes (APOA1, AMH, TAC3, INHA, SPARC, SOX9) were identified for the sexually immature stage, and six different markers (PRM1, PRM2, LOC100051500, PRSS37, HMGB4, H1-9) for the sexually mature stage