Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-da...Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-day-old unpaired non-lactating male pigeons(MN)and males initiating lactation on the first day after incubation(ML).Using RNA sequencing,ribosomeprofiling,andsingle-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-seq),we identified a significant up-regulation of genes associated with ribosome assembly and protein synthesis in ML compared to MN.Results from scRNA-seq analysis identified 12distinct cell types and 22 clusters,with secretory epithelial cells(SECs)exhibiting marked expression of plasma cell markers,including IGLL1 and MZB1.RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA FISH)and IgY quantification confirmed the critical role of SECs in producing endogenous IgY during lactation.We propose that fibroblast-derived BAFF signals activate SECs,mimicking B cell transformation and enhancing protein production through the unfolded protein response(UPR).These findings shed light on the cellular dynamics of pigeon milk production and contribute to a broader understanding of avian biology.展开更多
基金supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province,China (JXARS-09)Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province,China (2020B1212060060)。
文摘Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-day-old unpaired non-lactating male pigeons(MN)and males initiating lactation on the first day after incubation(ML).Using RNA sequencing,ribosomeprofiling,andsingle-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-seq),we identified a significant up-regulation of genes associated with ribosome assembly and protein synthesis in ML compared to MN.Results from scRNA-seq analysis identified 12distinct cell types and 22 clusters,with secretory epithelial cells(SECs)exhibiting marked expression of plasma cell markers,including IGLL1 and MZB1.RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA FISH)and IgY quantification confirmed the critical role of SECs in producing endogenous IgY during lactation.We propose that fibroblast-derived BAFF signals activate SECs,mimicking B cell transformation and enhancing protein production through the unfolded protein response(UPR).These findings shed light on the cellular dynamics of pigeon milk production and contribute to a broader understanding of avian biology.
