Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Cardiac Tissues Between Hu Sheep and Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) Under High-altitude Adaptation
HE Jian-Wen1,2, YANG Wen-Xin2, HE Ya-Peng2, LIU Xiu2,*
1 Gansu Vocational College of Agricultural, Lanzhou 730020, China; 2 College of Animal Science and Technology/Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Abstract：High-altitude hypoxic stress is a major factor affecting animal survival and physiological functions. The heart, as the central organ responsible for maintaining blood circulation and oxygen delivery in the body, directly determines an individual's ability to survive in low-oxygen environments through its energy metabolism and functional stability. This study selected the highland-adapted breed Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) and the highland-immigrated breed Hu sheep as research subjects, differential expression genes (DEGs) in cardiac tissues were screened using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis, followed by qRT-PCR validation of the DEGs. The results showed that a total of 616 DEGs were identified in the heart tissues of 2 breeds of sheep (P<0.05). Compared with Tibetan sheep, there were 437 up-regulated genes and 179 down regulated genes in Hu sheep; Randomly selected 8 DEGs for validation, and the expression trend was consistent with the sequencing results. Further analysis revealed that key differential genes, including ATPase sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting 3 (ATP2A3), natriuretic peptide B （NPPB）、phosphodiesterase 3A （PDE3A）, solute carrier family 25 member 4 （SLC25A4） and v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 3 （AKT3）, were primarily enriched in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, cardiac muscle contraction, and MAPK signaling pathway. These genes might enhance the energy metabolism efficiency and functional adaptability of Hu sheep hearts under hypoxic conditions, playing a key regulatory role in hypoxia adaptation of introduced sheep. The study demonstrated that there were differences in the transcriptional levels of cardiac energy regulation genes between plateau-introduced sheep and plateau-adapted sheep. Candidate genes for hypoxia adaptation in plateau-introduced sheep, such as ATP2A3, NPPB, PDE3A, SLC25A4, and AKT3, were identified. This research provides new targets for elucidating the mechanisms of high-altitude hypoxia adaptation in sheep.
何建文, 杨文鑫, 何亚鹏, 刘秀. 高海拔适应下湖羊和藏绵羊心脏组织转录组差异比较分析[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2026, 34(6): 1208-1220.
HE Jian-Wen, YANG Wen-Xin, HE Ya-Peng, LIU Xiu. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Cardiac Tissues Between Hu Sheep and Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) Under High-altitude Adaptation. 农业生物技术学报, 2026, 34(6): 1208-1220.
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