Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy inhibits aquaporin 4 and adrenocorticotropic hormone expression in the pituitary gland of rabbits with blast-induced craniocerebral injury

In the present study, rabbits were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 1 hour after detonator-blastinduced craniocerebral injury. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly reduced aquaporin 4 expression and adrenocorticotropic hormone expression in the pituitary gland of rabbits with craniocerebral injury. Aquaporin 4 expression was positively correlated with adrenocorticotropic hormone expression. These findings indicate that early hyperbaric oxygen therapy may suppress adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion by inhibiting aquaporin 4 expression.

Establishing a protein expression profile database for the normal human pituitary gland using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry

In this study, we selected adult normal pituitary gland tissues from six patients during operations for pituitary microadenomas via the transsphenoidal approach for extended normal pituitary tissue resection around the tumor, and analyzed the protein expression of human normal pituitary using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry proteomics technology. The ten most highly expressed proteins in normal human pituitary were： alpha 3 type VI collagen isoform 5 precursor （abundance among tall pituitary proteins 1.30%）, fibrinogen beta chain preproprotein （0.99%）, vimentin （0.73%）, prolactin （0.69%）, ATP synthase, H~ transporting and mitochondrial F1 complex beta subunit precursor （0.52%）, keratin I （0.49%）, growth hormone （0.45%）, carbonic anhydrase I （0.40%）, heat shock protein 90 kDa I （0.31%）, and annexin V （0.30%）. Based on the biological function classifications of these proteins, the top three categories by content were neuroendocrine proteins （abundance among all pituitary proteins, 40.1%）, catalytic and metabolic proteins （28.3%）, and cell signal transduction proteins （9.8%）. Based on cell positioning classification, the top three categories were cell organelle （24.5%） membrane （20.8%）, and cytoplasm （13.0%）. Based on biological process classification, the top three categories of proteins are involved in physiological processes （42.9%）, cellular processes （40.4%）, and regulation of biological processes （9.1%）. Our experimental findings indicate that a protein expression profile database of normal human pituitary can be precisely and efficiently established by proteomics technology.

Gene Expression Changes in the Pituitary Gland of Rats Exposed to Electromagnetic Pulses

Objective We examined alterations in the expression of tumorigenesis‐related genes in the pituitary gland of rats exposed to electromagnetic pulses （EMP）.Methods The global gene expression profiles of the pituitary gland in EMP‐exposed and control groups were detected by cDNA microarray analysis.We then validated and further investigated the reduced expression of two tumorigenesis‐related genes,Pten,and Jund,by assessing their mRNA and protein expression by quantitative real‐time‐PCR,western blotting,and immunohistochemistry in the pituitary gland of rats 6 months after exposure to EMP.Results EMP exposure induced genome‐wide gene expression changes in the rat pituitary gland.There was decreased expression of the Pten and Jund mRNAs and proteins in EMP‐exposed rats compared with in unexposed control animals.Conclusion EMP exposure alters the expression of tumorigenesis‐related genes in the pituitary gland.These tumorigenesis‐related genes are potentially involved in the development of pituitary gland tumors in rats.

Alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary glands evoked by subacute chlorpyrifos administration in Wistar rats

Objective:To evaluate the alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary gland induced by subacute chlopyrifos（CPF） exposure in rats.Methods:Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 10 animals were used for the study.Croup I received soya oil（2 mL/kg） while group II was administered with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg）.Group III was administered CPF only(8.5 mg/kg l/10th of the LD50) while group Ⅳ was pretreated with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg） and then exposed to CPF（8.5 mg/kg）,10 min later.The regimens were administered by gavage once daily for a period of 28 d.At the end of the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed and the testicular tissues and pituitary glands were evaluated for the malonaldehyde（MDA） concentration and activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD） and catalase（CAT）.Results:CPF increased MDA concentrations and reduced the activities of SOD and CAT in the testes and pituitary gland.Melatonin pretreatment reduced the testicular and pituitary MDA concentrations and improves the SOD and CAT activities.Conclusions:the study showed that subacute CPF-induced oxidative stress in the testes and pituitary glands were alleviated by melatonin due to its antioxidant property.

μ-and m-calpain expression and activity changes following diethylstilbestrol injection in the rat anterior pituitary

Little is known about changes in calpain activity in the pituitary gland. In the present study,μ- and m-calpain activity changes were detected in the rat anterior pituitary following intraperitoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol. Double-immunofluorescence labeling confirmed colocalization of μ- and m-calpain in prolactin-secreting cells （lactotrophs）. Western blot analysis revealed significantly increased expression of both calpains, which accompanied upregulated cytosol and membrane zymographic activities at 12 weeks following diethylstilbestrol injection, compared with rats injected with sunflower oil. Moreover, following estrogen injection, pituitary gland pathological damage gradually worsened with increasing time. Results demonstrated that estrogen regulated calpain expression and activity, and both calpains participated in the pathophysiological processes of the pituitary gland. Ubiquitous calpain expression could serve as an effective target for anti-estrogen drugs.

Influence of leptin on luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone secreted from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells

BACKGROUND： Leptin may regulate reproductive function via release of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y. However, it is unknown whether this regulatory effect is limited to the hypothalamus. OBJECTIVE： To detect the effect of different dosages of leptin on luteinizing hormone （LH） and follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） secretion from in vitro cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. DESIGN： Contrast study based on cells. SETTING： This study was performed in the Basic Institute of Chengde Medical College, Chengde City, Hebei Province, China from March to June 2007. MATERIALS： Eighteen female Wistar rats of three months of age, weighing 200-220 g, and of clean grade were used. Leptin was provided by Peprotech Company, DMEM culture medium by Invitrogen Company, and the radioimmunological kit by Beijing Zhongshan Jinqiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. METHODS： Three glandular organs were regarded as one group for culture of anterior pituitary cells. In the control group, saline was added to the culture medium instead of leptin. In the leptin group, leptin was prepared into different concentrations of 1×10^-12, 1×10^-11, 1×10^-9, 1×10^-7, and 1×10^-6 mol/L for stimulation of cultured cells. The culture supernatant was obtained at three hours after additional of saline/leptin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Contents of LH and FSH were detected by radioimmunology. RESULTS： Following leptin stimulation, LH release increased with increasing concentrations of leptin up to 1×10^-9 mol/L, where LH release peaked. LH release then progressively decreased with increasing leptin concentrations （P 〈 0.01）. LH release in the leptin （1×10^-12, 1×10^-11, 1×10^-7, and 1×10^-6 mol/L） groups was significantly higher than that in the control group （P 〈 0.01）. FSH content in the leptin （1×10^-11, 1×10^-9, and 1×10^-7 mol/L） groups was significantly higher than that in the control group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Leptin can directly affect pituitary tissue to promote the secretion of LH and FSH in a dose-dependent manner.

Immunocytochemical identification and distribution of the cell types in the pituitary gland of <i>Bagrus bayad</i>(<i>Teleostei, Bagridae</i>)

Immunocytochemical identification of the different cell types in the pituitary gland of Bagrus bayad was performed using antisera against mammalian (human and rat) and piscine hormones. The adenohypophysis was composed of rostral pars distalis (RPD), proximal pars distalis (PPD) and pars intermedia (PI). Prolactin and adrenocorticotrophic cells were located in the rostral pars distalis of the pituitary. Gonadotrophic and growth hormone cells were distributed in the proximal pars distalis, but gonadotrophic cells appear also at the border of the pars intermedia. Somatolactin cells, as well as alpha-melanotrophic cells were located in the pars intermedia of B. bayad pitui-tary. The prolactin (PRL) cells were distributed in the RPD stained with orange G and showed strong immunoreactivity with antiserum to chum salmon. The adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) cells were lead hema-toxylin-positive (PbH+) and showed strong im- mu-noreactivity with anti-human ACTH;these cells bor-dered the neurohypophysis and grouped in islets be-tween PRL cells in the RPD. Growth hormone (GH) cells were densely distributed with the gonadotrophic (GTH) cells in the PPD. They were orange G positive and reacted with antiserum to chum salmon. GTH cells were located in the central area of the PPD and in the external border of the PI. These cells were Alcyan Blue and PAS positive, and immunostained with anti-chum salmon GTH Iβ and anti-chum salmon GTH IIβ. In addition, antiserum to rat thyrotropin stimulating hormone β (TSHβ) reacted positively to the GTH cells. These results suggest that GTH I, GTH II and TSH are synthesized in the same cells in the pituitary of B. bayad. The PI was composed mainly of PbH+ cells and a PAS+ cell adjacent to the neurohypophysis. The PAS+ cells from the PI bound specifically to anti-chum somatolactin. Anti-alpha- melanin stimulating hormone (MSH) stained only the PbH+ (alpha-melanotrophic) cells of the PI.

FOLLICULO-STELLATE CELLS OF THE RAT ANTERIOR PITUITARY RESPONDED TO ANGIOTENSIN Ⅱ BY INCREASING INTRACELLULAR Ca^(2+) CONCENTRATION

Objective The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether the folliculo stellate cells (FSC) respond to angiotensin(Ang)Ⅱ by increasing intracellular free Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i),and where the origin of Ca 2+ mobilization is if that has occurred.Methods Pituitary cells in primary culture were prepared from male Wister rats(250g) by a conventional method and cultured in MEM supplemented with 4% normal rat serum.After 2 days in culutre,cells were loaded with 1 μmol/L fura PE3/AM for 1 h and subjected to a Ca 2+ imaging experiment with Quanti Cell 700 system.Excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm were selected by means of a computer controlled filterwheel.Results The [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC in the rat anterior pituitary was elevated by Ang Ⅱ.The elevation of [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC induced by 0.1,1.0,10 and 100 nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was (56.33±6.18)( ±s ),(117.07±36.07),(175.59±40.01) and (216.02±11.52) nmol/L,respectively.The increase of [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC induced by 100 nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was not influenced by the medium without Ca 2+ (0Ca),but significantly suppressed by thapsigargin(TG),an inhibitor of ATPase.The rate of responsive FSC to Ang Ⅱ (100 nmol/L) was 61.84% which was obviously higher than that of pituitary endocrine cells(43.49%).Conclusion The present experiment demonstrates that the FSC in the rat anterior pituitary responds to Ang Ⅱ by increasing [Ca 2+ ]i,which raises the possibility that Ang Ⅱ released from either lactotrophs or gonadotrophs affects FSC through paracrine mechanism.The elevation of [Ca 2+ ]i induced by Ang Ⅱ presents a dosage dependent relation, and is possibly because of the release of Ca 2+ from an intracellular Ca 2+ pool(s).Fashions of Ca 2+ release are relative to the concentration of Ang Ⅱ.The results indicate that Ang Ⅱ functions as a paracrine factor among pituitary cells including FSC.

Substance P enhances the proliferation of rat anteriorpituitary cells in vitro

The undecapeptide substance P(SP) was shown to be intimately involved in both the structural and functional aspects of the anterior pituitary. Yet, in addition to its influences on hormonal secretion, SP may well possess more actions in this master gland. The present study was ftherefore aimed to investigate the effect of SP on the proliferation of rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. It was found that SP could dose-dependently increase the ineorporation of tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR)into cultured anterior pituitary cells. Other mammalian tachykinins such as neurokinin A and neurokinin B had similar effect but to varying degrees. The equipotent analogue of SP, Norleucine(11) -SP(Nle(11)-SP), also acted likewise, with its action antagonizable by spantide, a SP receptor blocker. To further characterize the nature of cells responsive to the challenge of SP, immunocytochemical staining against S-100 protein and some adenohypophyseal hormones was performed alone or plus autoradiography The results showed that the percentage of S-100 proteinimmunoreactive cells was apparently elevated by the addtion of Nle(11)-SP for 48 h, which indicates a preferential proliferation of folliculo-stellate cells under the regime. This was confirmed by increases in immunocytochemical or autoradiographical labelling indices of anterior pituitary cells treated similarly. Taken togethbr, these results reveal that the trophic action of SP observed previously in other tissues is also present at least in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells, with responding cells being predominantly folliculo-stellate cells as typified by S-100 proteinimmunoreactivity. Therefore, an intra-pituitary trophic action of SP in vivo could be anticipated.

Rehabilitation of anterior pituitary dysfunction combined with extrapontine myelinolysis: A case report

BACKGROUND Extramedullary myelinolysis is a rare demyelinating disease, often caused by rapid increases in serum sodium concentration in patients with hyponatremia.Clinical manifestations are neuropsychiatric symptoms, limb weakness, and dysarthria. Because of its poor prognosis and high disability rate, it poses a huge burden on the global economy, societies, and families. This article reports rehabilitation in a patient with pituitary dysfunction combined with extramedullary myelinolysis.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old Chinese man developed anorexia, vomiting, and limb weakness and was diagnosed with pituitary insufficiency. He had low serum sodium, slow movement, muscle weakness, and muscle tone abnormalities after sodium supplementation, involuntary limb shaking, ataxia, and dysarthria. According to the symptoms and signs and imaging reports, he was diagnosed with extramedullary myelinolysis. After treatment with hormone therapy and neurotrophic drugs, motor and speech function did not improve, so he was treated in the rehabilitation department for 4 wk. The patient's physical status was improved substantially during his stay at the rehabilitation department.CONCLUSION Patients with extramedullary myelinolysis who actively participate in rehabilitation intervention can significantly improve their activities of daily living.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of visual cortex activation in patients with anterior visual pathway lesions

The aim of this study was to examine the secondary visual cortex functional disorder in patients with glaucoma and large pituitary adenoma by functional magnetic resonance imaging, and to determine the correlation between visual field defect and primary visual cortex activation. Results showed that single eye stimulation resulted in bilateral visual cortex activation in patients with glaucoma or large pituitary adenoma. Compared with the normal control group, the extent and intensity of visual cortex activation was decreased after left and right eye stimulation, and functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed a correlation between visual field defects and visual cortex activation in patients with glaucoma and large pituitary adenoma. These functional magnetic resonance imaging data suggest that anterior optic pathway lesions can cause secondary functional disorder of the visual cortex, and that visual defects are correlated with visual cortex activation.

Microscopic examination of pituitary glands in cases of fatal accidental hypothermia

In cases of death caused by hypothermia,histological analysis can be used to determine the cause of death.Certain histological alterations of the pituitary glands in hypothermia have been reported in the literature,including haemorrhage,hyperaemia and cellular vacuolization of cells in the anterior lobe.In the present study,the validity of these morphological alterations as markers for fatal accidental hypothermia was investigated in autopsy material.A total of 34 pituitary glands in cases of verified fatal accidental hypothermia were examined histologically(haematoxylin and eosin,ferric,azan)and immunohistochemically(LCA,ACTH,C5b-9).The findings were compared with 61 cases in a control group.Hyperaemia was found in 50.0%of the study group cases and 59.0% of the control group cases.Cellular vacuolization was observed in one case(2.9%)in the study group and one case(1.6%)in the control group.Acute or recent haemorrhage in the glandular tissue was never detected.In our study,the histopathological characteristics described in the literature as pathognomonic for hypothermia could not be confirmed.Furthermore,histological differences in the pituitary glands between fatal hypothermia cases and control group cases were not observed.

Morphological comparison and gonadotropins cell localization of mature female turbot and mouse pituitary

Reproduction is subtlety regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad(HPG)axis in vertebrates.Pituitary gland is the center of the HPG axis,while pituitary gonadotropins follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were identified the key elements of the HPG axis in teleost and mammal.Morphology,cell lines,and gonadotropins cell localization of female turbot and mouse pituitary were determined at mature stage to illustrate the anatomical difference and cell characteristics in this study.Results show that turbot pituitary is chicken heart-shaped,dorsoventral,located on the ventral surface of the diencephalon.The mouse pituitary is oval,located in the pituitary fossa of the sella turcica at the skull base.Two well-distinguished areas adenohypophysis(AH)and neurohypophysis(NH)in pituitary were identified in turbot and mouse.Turbot AH comprised the rostral pars distalis(RPD),proximal pars distalis(PPD),and pars intermedia(PI).NH was not pronounced and with finger-like protrusions into PPD.However,mouse AH only comprised the pars distalis(PD)and PI.NH distribution was semicircular.Three main types of cells(acidophilic,basophilic,and chromophobic cells)were distributed in the mouse PD region,whereas appeared in the turbot PPD,RPD,and PI.Moreover,the percentage of mouse chromophobic and basophilic cells was higher and lower than that of turbot,respectively.The diameter of the aforementioned three cells in the mouse was significantly higher than turbot.fshβ-and lhβ-immunoreactive signals were identified in turbot-distinct pituitary cells that primarily occupied the peripheral and central regions of AH.However,mouse fsh-and lh-immunoreactive cells were expressed in the same cells and present in the PD.These results demonstrate the significantly difference of pituitary morphology,cell lines and gonadotropins(fshβand lhβ)location in female turbot and mouse.These differences help for fully understand the evolution and endocrinological functions of pituitary.

Molecular-level effects of acupuncture on depression: a genome-wide transcriptome analysis of pituitary gland in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of acupuncture at the molecular level in the pituitary gland of rats exposed to chronic restraint stress(CRS).METHODS: Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into a control group(C), model group(M), fluoxetine group(F), and acupuncture group(A). CRS was induced in the model group by restraining rats for 28 days. Groups F and A were given fluoxetine administration and acupuncture intervention, respectively, 1 h before the CRS procedures were implemented. On the 29 th day, rat pituitary glands were harvested for RNA extraction and RNA-sequencing analysis.RESULTS: Differentially expressed gene analysis identified 148, 87, and 179 response genes differen-tially expressed in group C vs group M, group F vs group M, and group A vs group M, respectively. Using Gene Ontology term enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, we identified the up-regulation of gene sets involved in extracellular space,receptor binding, and monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism, and the down-regulation of gene sets involved in immune response and inflammatory response as the prevailing transcriptomic signatures in the pituitary gland of rats treated with CRS,fluoxetine, or acupuncture.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that acupuncture has a multitarget antidepressant effect at the molecular and behavioral levels.

Down-regulation of Leucine-rich Repeats and Immunoglobulin-like Domain Proteins (LRIG1-3) in HP75 Pituitary Adenoma Cell Line

Three human leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains （LRIG） genes and proteins, named LRIG1-3, has been previously characterized and it was proposed that they may act as suppressors of tumor growth. The LRIG1 protein can inhibit the growth of tumors of glial cells and the down-regulation of the LRIG1 gene may be involved in the development and progression of the tumor. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） is a recently developed technique for quantitative assessment of specific RNA levels. In the current study, it was demonstrated that LRIG1-3 and EGFR mRNA was detected in human pituitary adenoma cell lines and a normal pituitary sample, with differences in the expression levels. Compared to the normal pituitary samples, the expression of LRIG1-3 in HP75 cell line was lower, but the expression of EGFR in HP75 cell line was higher. The results are consistent with LRIG1-3 being tumour suppressor genes, and LRIG genes decreasing the expression of EGFR. The ratio of EGFR/LRIGl was increased at least 13-fold in HP75 cells compared with the normal pituitary cells, which was also the case for the ratio of EGFR/LRIG2 （14-fold increase in HP75） and EGFR/LRIG3 （11-fold increase in HP75）. Further studies were needed to elucidate the explicit role of LRIG genes as negative regulators of oncogenesis in human pituitary adenoma.

垂体前叶功能减退症的病因及诊疗研究进展

垂体前叶功能减退症(APH)是不同病因导致一种或多种垂体前叶激素缺乏所致的内分泌功能减退综合征。起病隐匿,缓慢进展,临床表现取决于激素缺乏的种类及程度,激素水平测定和垂体功能激发试验有助于明确诊断。APH患者大部分需终生激素替代治疗,替代不足或过量均会影响患者生活质量。随着深入研究发现APH患者的发病率和死亡率增加,因此了解APH的不同病因、早期诊断和规范治疗具有重要临床意义。本文对APH症的病因、临床表现、诊断及治疗等方面的研究新进展进行综述。

右侧脑室异位垂体神经内分泌肿瘤1例

患者男,27岁,体检发现颅内占位1天;平素体健,无头晕、头痛等不适。神经系统专科查体未见异常。实验室检查:血清卵泡刺激素1.02mIU/ml,睾酮2.62nmol/L。头颅平扫CT:右侧侧脑室体部20mm×30mm×15mm等或稍高混杂密度肿块,CT值30~50HU。头颅MRI:右侧侧脑室体部32mm×19mm×12mm类圆形囊实性肿块,实性部分T1WI呈等或低混杂信号(图1A)、T2WI呈以中等高信号为主的混杂信号(图1B),液体衰减反转恢复(fluid attenuation inverse recovery,FLAIR)序列图示病灶中间大部呈低信号、边缘见小片稍高信号(图1C);囊性部分呈水样信号;肿块周围脑实质无明显水肿,与透明隔分界清楚;增强后病灶前端见小片中等强化灶,余部无或仅轻度强化,囊变部分未见强化(图1D)。

Pituitary-Thyroid Dysfunction in a Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy Patient

The pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy has not been clearly elucidated and involvement of autoimmune damage has been proposed. We report a 23-year-old man who was emergently hospitalized for paroxysmal syncope and involuntary tremor with normal physical examination except for low heart rate. The patient was characterized by neurological symptoms, mild hypothyroidism, enlarged pituitary gland and extremely elevated thyrotropin, which all were reversed with levothyroxine alone. The case indicated that the pituitary-thyroid dysfunction may play a role in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, hence, evaluation of pituitary gland should be recommended in diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy.

1例蝶窦异位垂体瘤影像学表现

患者男,56岁,枕部间断疼痛伴嗅觉减退、视远物模糊1个月,无视野缺损;既往糖尿病10余年,未规律监测血糖。前鼻镜检查未见明显异常。实验室检查:孕酮0.04ng/ml,睾酮38.67ng/dl,甲状腺素11.60μg/dl,游离甲状腺素1.80ng/dl。颅脑CT/MRI:蝶窦、斜坡处3.9cm×2.5cm×2.3cm等低混杂密度不规则团块,局部骨质破坏(图1A、1B),T1WI以等信号为主(图1C),T2WI呈不均匀高信号(图1D),增强后不均匀强化(图1E),蝶窦偏左部分呈中度强化。

不同光色条件下京海黄鸡垂体转录组功能分析

【目的】对不同光色条件下京海黄鸡垂体进行转录组测序分析,了解不同光色条件下京海黄鸡垂体的表达谱,旨在筛选出红光影响京海黄鸡生殖激素合成的关键基因,为提高种鸡产蛋性能提供理论基础。【方法】红光组京海黄鸡产蛋量(90.61枚)显著高于白光组(87.44枚)(P<0.05)。选取红光和白光条件下京海黄鸡各3只,采集其垂体进行高通量测序,利用HISAT和DESeq等方法获得差异表达基因(DEGs)进行GO功能注释和KEGG信号通路富集分析。【结果】通过高通量测序获得4892794884~4980565639条Raw reads,比对到参考基因组的read比对率在92.00%以上,GC含量为48.54%~49.11%。将红光和白光条件下京海黄鸡的垂体进行比较,共获得155个DEGs,其中红光组与白光组(RP vs WP)相比,有90个基因表达上调和65个基因表达下调。对DEGs进行GO功能注释分析,主要在生物调控、细胞过程、细胞、细胞组分、连接和催化活性功能等重要生物途径。KEGG信号通路分析结果显示,DEGs主要富集在细胞因子—细胞因子受体相互作用、类固醇激素的生物合成通路、视黄醇的新陈代谢、花生四烯酸代谢、神经活性配体—受体相互作用等信号通路,这些通路中的促性腺激素释放激素基因(GNRH1)、分泌型磷蛋白1基因(SPP1)、信号转导蛋白1基因(SMAD1)、骨形态形成蛋白拮抗蛋白2抗体基因(GREM2)和表皮调节素基因(EREG)等表达可能受光色的影响,从而影响种鸡的产蛋性能。实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)结果证明了转录组测序结果准确可靠。【结论】与白光相比,红光能显著提高京海黄鸡的产蛋量。筛选获得的GNRH1、SPP1、SMAD1、GREM2和EREG等基因可能在光色调控京海黄鸡产蛋性能中发挥重要作用,可作为种鸡垂体组织调控其产蛋性能分子机制研究的关键基因。