Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Estrogen-Like Effect of Bazi Bushen Capsule in Ovariectomized Rats
Published on: April 7, 2023
The muscle development transcriptome landscape of ovariectomized goat
Sihuan Zhang1, Han Xu1, Xinfeng Liu1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
Ovariectomy in ewes significantly improves meat production by altering muscle development at a molecular level. This study used transcriptome sequencing to identify key genes and pathways involved in this process, validating findings with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ewe ovariectomy enhances meat productivity, but underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing livestock fattening practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the global transcriptome of ovariectomized ewes compared to normal ewes.
- To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular pathways influencing muscle development post-ovariectomy.
Main Methods:
- Construction and Illumina sequencing of five independent cDNA libraries from longissimus dorsi muscle.
- Analysis of transcripts, unigenes, simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
- Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs, validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Main Results:
- Generated over 205 million transcripts and 118 thousand unigenes.
- Identified 15,490 SSRs and analyzed SNP patterns.
- Discovered 1612 DEGs, with 421 uniquely expressed in ovariectomized ewes, and enriched pathways related to development and reproduction.
Conclusions:
- Ovariectomy in ewes significantly impacts muscle development through specific gene expression changes.
- The findings provide molecular insights into enhanced meat production in ovariectomized animals.
- This research supports the application of ewe ovariectomy for improving livestock fattening efficiency.
Related Concept Videos
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
Sustainable Development
Muscles of the Eye
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and...
Muscles that Move the Head
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
Muscles of the Abdomen
Anterolateral Region
The anterolateral region comprises five paired muscles classified into the lateral and...
Muscles that Move the Arm
The pectoralis major has two origins. Its clavicular head originates on the medial half of the clavicle. In contrast, the sternocostal head originates on the costal cartilages of ribs 1-6, the sternum, and the aponeurosis of the external oblique of the...

