Transcriptome analysis of the uterovaginal junction containing sperm storage tubules in heat-stressed breeder hens
Sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the uterovaginal junction (UVJ) of the oviduct are major sites of sperm storage after artificial insemination or mating. Female birds may regulate sperm motility in the UVJ. Heat stress can decrease the reproductive ability of broiler breeder hens. However, its effects on UVJ remain unclear. Changes in gene expression aid in understanding heat stress-affected molecular mechanisms. Herein, we wanted to conduct a comparative transcriptomic analysis to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the UVJ of breeder hens under thermoneutral (23°C) and heat stress (36°C for 6 h) conditions. Overall design: RNA-seq profiling of the uterovaginal junction of breeder hens under thermoneutral (23°C) and heat stress (36°C for 6 h) conditions.