RNA-Seq reveals ACTH-induced steroid hormone pathway participating in goat adrenal gland response to castration.

Jing H, Ding Y, Jiang X, Liu G, Sha Y

Scientific reports28 Aug 2023Cited by 4 (Europe PMC)

PMID37640763PMCIDPMC10462686DOI10.1038/s41598-023-41016-5PepBankPUB-37640763

Summary

The content of androgen from adrenal is elevated under castration, and the mechanisms of compensatory secretion of adrenal androgen remain unknown. This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats. Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group. Subsequently, serum was collected every two weeks after the initial immunization for hormone assays. At week 14 after immunization, adrenal glands were collected for transcriptome sequencing and qPCR. Serum testosterone concentration was significantly reduced in PBK-asd and SC group, demonstrating the effectiveness of castration. Both surgical and immunized castration resulted in adrenal hyperplasia, and thickness of adrenal cortex elevated. The specific genes involving castration were enriched in many pathways, including Steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which promotes the production of adrenal steroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands, both increased after castration. Further construction of co-expression network for transcription genes and traits (including adrenal weight and cortex thickness, ACTH and DHEA concentration) showed that the trait-related genes were enriched in multiple steroid-related pathways. These results showed that adrenal compensatory hyperplasia and androgen secretion caused by castration may involve in ACTH-induced steroid hormone synthesis.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).

01AnimalNot a test of Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In goats, serum testosterone fell significantly after kisspeptin‑54 gene-vector immunization and after surgical castration.
In plain wordsIn goats, testosterone fell after an immunization that uses a kisspeptin‑54 gene vector, as it did after surgical castration.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-54 (metastin)
Outcome
DecreaseSerum testosterone concentration
Study
goatn: not reported in source
Yiling goats, adrenal glands
Comparator
pVAX-asd control group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
Serum testosterone concentration was significantly reduced in PBK-asd and SC group, demonstrating the effectiveness of castration.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats.
Summary · context
Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group.
In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3764076301
02AnimalNot a test of Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In goats, both surgical and immunized castration caused adrenal hyperplasia and increased adrenal cortex thickness.
In plain wordsIn goats, both surgical castration and the immunization increased adrenal size and cortex thickness.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-54 (metastin)
Outcome
IncreaseAdrenal hyperplasia and cortex thickness
Study
goatn: not reported in source
Yiling goats, adrenal glands
Comparator
pVAX-asd control group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
Both surgical and immunized castration resulted in adrenal hyperplasia, and thickness of adrenal cortex elevated.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats.
Summary · context
Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group.
In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3764076302
03AnimalNot a test of Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In goats, serum ACTH increased after castration.
In plain wordsIn goats, ACTH levels rose after castration.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-54 (metastin)
Outcome
IncreaseSerum ACTH after castration
Study
goatn: not reported in source
Yiling goats, adrenal glands
Comparator
pVAX-asd control group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which promotes the production of adrenal steroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands, both increased after castration
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats.
Summary · context
Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group.
In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3764076303
04AnimalNot a test of Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In goats, serum DHEA increased after castration.
In plain wordsIn goats, DHEA levels rose after castration.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-54 (metastin)
Outcome
IncreaseSerum DHEA after castration
Study
goatn: not reported in source
Yiling goats, adrenal glands
Comparator
pVAX-asd control group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which promotes the production of adrenal steroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands, both increased after castration
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats.
Summary · context
Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group.
In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3764076304
05AnimalNot a test of Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In goat adrenals, genes linked to castration were enriched in several pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis.
In plain wordsIn goat adrenal glands, castration-linked genes clustered in several pathways, including steroid hormone production.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-54 (metastin)
Outcome
Not applicablePathway enrichment of castration-related genes
Study
goatn: not reported in source
Yiling goats, adrenal glands
Comparator
pVAX-asd control group
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
The specific genes involving castration were enriched in many pathways, including Steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study was designed to compare the transcript profiles between adrenals from noncastrated, orchiectomized and immunocastrated Yiling goats.
Summary · context
Fifteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: pVAX-asd injection (control) group, pVAX-B2L-(G₄S)₃-kisspeptin-54-asd immunization (PBK-asd) group, and surgical castration (SC) group.
In this study, Kisspeptin-54 (metastin) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Kisspeptin-54 (metastin).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3764076305

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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