Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal key genes and pathways associated with egg-laying rate in the late laying phase of Chinese yellow-feathered quails.

Abstract

Egg production is a core indicator for laying‑poultry productivity, and reduced egg yield in the late laying phase severely harms farming economic returns. Although some quails retain high egg production within flocks experiencing late‑phase production decline, the molecular mechanisms behind divergent laying performance remain unclear. This study conducted integrated ovarian transcriptome and serum metabolome analyses on late‑laying Chinese yellow‑feathered quails with contrasting laying performance. Transcriptomics identified 751 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 205 up‑, 546 down‑regulated), enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis, PPAR signaling, retinol metabolism and neuroactive ligand‑receptor interaction.PPI network analysis further picked out 8 candidate core genes that were upregulated in the low-yield group, including F2, FGA, AHSG, SERPINC1, APOH, FGG, FGB, and AMBP. Metabolomics detected 141 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs; 87 up‑, 54 down‑regulated), mainly enriched in bile acid biosynthesis, steroid biosynthesis and ABC‑transporter pathways. Multi‑omics integration revealed strong correlations between these key genes and DEMs; taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) was negatively correlated with the above genes. The integrated analysis suggests that changes in bile acid and lipid metabolism may be associated with ovarian coagulation-related processes and injury responses, jointly contributing to differences in laying performance among quails during the late laying period. The candidate genes and metabolites identified in this study provide leads for further investigation of ovarian functional changes during this period and may inform future research on the selection of high-producing individuals and nutritional interventions.

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