Early life nutrition affects the molecular ontogeny of testicular development in the young bull calf

Enhanced early life nutrition accelerates sexual development in the bull calf through neuroendocrine-signalling mediated via the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Our aim was to assess the impact of contrasting feeding regimes in bull calves during the first 12 weeks of life on the testes transcriptome and proteome. Holstein-Friesian bull calves were offered either a high (HI) or moderate (MOD) plane of nutrition, designed to support target growth rates of 1.0 and 0.5 kg/day, respectively. At 12 weeks of age all calves were euthanized, testicular parenchyma sampled, and global transcriptome (miRNAseq and mRNAseq) and proteome analyses undertaken. Bioinformatic analyses revealed 7 differentially expressed (DE) miRNA and 20 DE mRNA. There were no differentially abundant proteins between the two dietary groups. Integration of omics results highlighted a potential role for the cadherin gene, CDH13, in earlier reproductive development. Furthermore, co-regulatory network analysis of the proteomic data revealed CDH13 as a hub protein within a network enriched for processes related to insulin, IGF-1, androgen and Sertoli cell junction signalling pathways as well as cholesterol biosynthesis. Overall, results highlight a potential role for CDH13 in mediating earlier reproductive development as a consequence of enhanced early life nutrition in the bull calf.

Automated summary

Enhanced early life nutrition affects sexual development in bull calves through neuroendocrine signaling mediated via the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different feeding regimes on the transcriptome and proteome of bull calf testes during the first 12 weeks of life. Holstein-Friesian bull calves were assigned to either a high or moderate plane of nutrition. Transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed differentially expressed miRNA and mRNA, with the potential involvement of the CDH13 gene in reproductive development. Integration of omics data suggested a role for CDH13 in insulin, IGF-1, androgen, Sertoli cell junction, and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. These findings highlight the importance of early nutrition in bull calf reproductive development and the potential role of CDH13.