Integrated single-cell and metabolomic profiling identifies ovarian metabolic differences and endothelial heterogeneity associated with litter-size variation in Hu sheep.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hu sheep are highly prolific, but litter size remains variable among individuals. How ovarian metabolism and somatic-cell heterogeneity are associated with this variation remains unclear. Ovarian metabolites from high-litter-size (HLS) and low-litter-size (LLS) Hu ewes were profiled by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ovarian cell populations and transcriptional states were characterized by single-cell RNA sequencing. Integrated analyses were used to relate metabolic differences to specific cell populations and predicted cell-cell communication. RT-qPCR and multiplex immunofluorescence were used to examine selected metabolic genes and the endothelial localization of ESM1. Separate cell experiments assessed the effects of e

SUBMITTER: Ge T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC13651338 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature