Randomized trial characterizes sex-associated transcriptional programs in chicken primordial germ cells, indicating potential targets for further study.
Key Points
This study aims to characterize the transcriptional profiles of primordial germ cells during chicken embryonic development and identify any sex-related differences.
Isolated primordial germ cells from male and female Silkie chicken embryos at two developmental stages (2.5 days and 8.5 days).
Conducted RNA sequencing with three biological replicates for each PGC subtype.
Performed comparative transcriptomic analyses to identify developmental-stage- and sex-associated differences.
Identified stage-associated differences in pathways related to cell-matrix interaction and PI3K-Akt signaling.
Found more differentially expressed genes in female PGCs than in males, particularly after gonadal colonization.
Highlighted candidate genes and pathways, such as HINTW and SOX2, for future validation without establishing direct causal mechanisms.