The study aimed to further understand the changes in steroid hormones and their related substances at different stages of follicular development in Holstein cows, and to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the process and mechanism of follicular development in cows. In this study, based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology, Holstein cows (n=18) were used as research subjects. Targeted steroid metabolomics analysis was performed on follicles of three sizes at different developmental stages, with exploration and group comparison conducted on small (Small follicle, SF, <5 mm, n=6), medium (Medium follicle, MF, 5-8 mm, n=6), and large (Large follicle, LF, >8 mm, n=6) follicles. A total of 24 steroid substances were identified. Among them, 8 differential metabolites (6 down-regulated, 2 up-regulated) were found in the comparison between SF and MF; 6 differential metabolites (2 down-regulated, 4 up-regulated) were found in the comparison between MF and LF; and 6 differential metabolites (4 down-regulated, 2 up-regulated) were found in the comparison between SF and LF. Subsequent analysis of differential metabolites based on the KEGG database revealed that in SF and MF, the endocrine resistance pathway (P=0.04) and prostate cancer pathway (P=0.03) were significantly enriched. In conclusion, this study confirmed significant changes in steroid hormones and their related substances during follicular development in Holstein cows, providing a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of changes in the cow reproductive system.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |