Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the liver heterogeneity between egg-laying duck and ceased-laying duck

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundIn the late phase of production, ducks untimely cease laying, leading to a lower feed conversion. Liver plays a vital role in the synthesis and transport of yolk materials during egg formation in birds. However, the molecular mechanism of liver in ceased-laying duck is far from clear, higher resolution and deeper analysis is needed. Sing-cell RNA-sequencing of10 × Genomicsplatform can help to map the liver single cell gene expression atlas of Shaoxing duck and provide new insights into the liver between egg-laying and ceased-laying ducks.ResultsAbout 20,000 single cells were profiled and 22 clusters were identified. All the clusters were identified as 6 cell types. The dominant cell type is hepatocyte, accounted for about 60% of all the cells. Of note, the heterogeneity of cells between egg-laying duck and ceased-laying duck mainly occurred in hepatocytes. Cells of cluster 3 and 12 were the unique hepatocyte states of egg-laying ducks, while cells of cluster 0 and 15 were the unique hepatocyte states of ceased-laying ducks. The expression mode of yolk precursor transporters, lipid metabolizing enzymes and fibrinogens were different in hepatocytes between egg-laying duck and ceased-laying duck.APOV1,VTG2,VTG1,APOB,RBP,VTDBandSCDmight be activated in egg-laying ducks, whileAPOA1,APOA4,APOC3,FGBandFGGmight be activated in ceased-laying ducks.ConclusionsOur study further proofs thatAPOV1andAPOBplay key roles in egg production, rather thanAPOA1andAPOA4. It is also the first to detect a correlation between the higher expression ofAPOC3,FGB,FGGand ceased-laying in duck.