Table 1.
Species source and functions in literature of the genes tested in this study
| Gene name | Species | Tissue distribution | Gene function |
|---|---|---|---|
| GnRH-I | Anser cygnoides | Hypothalamus | GnRH regulates the secretion of the gonadotropins LH and FSH [66]. |
| GnIH | Anser cygnoides | Hypothalamus | GnIH inhibits LH secretion and reduces testis weigh [20]. |
| VIP | Gallus gallus | Hypothalamus | VIP in the brain acts as a neuroendocrine factor and regulates PRL secretion [51]. |
| TRH | Gallus gallus | Hypothalamus | TRH regulates thyroid stimulating hormone secretion [67]. |
| GnRH Receptor | Gallus gallus | Pituitary | GnRH is a hypothalamic decapeptide that centrally controls reproduction by binding to GnRH receptors on pituitary gonadotropes and stimulating the secretion of LH and FSH [68]. |
| GnIH Receptor | Anser cygnoides | Pituitary | GnIH acts directly on the pituitary via the GnIH receptor and inhibits gonadotropin release [69]. |
| VIP Receptor-I | Gallus gallus | Pituitary | VIP is a hypothalamic polypeptide that controls reproduction by binding to VIP receptors on pituitary gonadotropes and stimulating PRL secretion [70]. |
| TRH Receptor | Gallus gallus | Pituitary | TRH acts directly on the pituitary via the TRH receptor and controls thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion e [71]. |
| FSH beta | Anser cygnoides | Pituitary | FSH stimulates gonadal growth and estrogen secretion by Sertoli cells. |
| LH beta | Anser cygnoides | Pituitary | LH controls estrogen and androgen production by mature ovarian follicles, and regulates androgen production by Leydig cells [72]. |
| PRL | Anser cygnoides | Pituitary | PRL inhibits gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes and reduces testis weight [73, 74]. |
| TSH beta | Anser cygnoides | Pituitary | TSH is a glycoprotein released from the adenohypophysis that activates iodine uptake, thyroid hormone synthesis, and the release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland [75]. |
| LH Receptor | Anser cygnoides | Testis | LH receptor is one of the three glycoprotein hormone receptors that is necessary for critical reproductive processes, including gonadal steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation and ovulation, and male sex differentiation [76]. |
| FSH Receptor | Anser cygnoides | Testis | FSHR is a transmembrane receptor that interacts with FSH, and its activation is necessary for the hormonal functions of FSH [77]. |
| 3-beta HSD | Anser cygnoides | Testis | 3-beta HSD catalyzes an obligatory step in the biosynthesis of all classes of hormonal steroids, namely, the oxidation/isomerization of 3-beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids into the corresponding 3-keto-4-ene steroids in gonadal as well as in peripheral tissue [78]. |
| StAR | Anser cygnoides | Testis | StAR plays a critical role in steroid hormone synthesis, and it is thought to increase the delivery of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane where P450scc resides [79]. |
Abbreviations: GnRH gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnIH gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone, VIP vasoactive intestinal peptide, TRH thyrotropin releasing hormone, FSH follicle-stimulating hormone, LH luteinizing hormone, PRL prolactin, TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone, 3-beta HSD three beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, StAR steroidogenic acute regulatory protein