Transcriptomic profiling reveals differential muscle development and metabolic regulation in male Xizang sheep subjected to surgical vs. GnRH-immunocastration

Castration is a common treatment modality for livestock and poultry; however, the conventional surgical method not only compromises animal welfare but also significantly impacts the economic viability of farming operations. GnRH-immunocastration is considered an effective alternative to traditional surgical castration, with evidence suggesting that this innovative technique not only achieves the desired castration outcomes but also enhances the growth performance of sheep. However, the underlying mechanisms by which GnRH-immunocastration promotes growth performance in sheep remain largely undefined. To address this gap, male Xizang sheep were chosen for this study and divided into three groups: an intact control group (EM), a surgical castration group (ORC), and a GnRH-immunised castration group (IM). After a 112–day feeding trial, the research team collected the longest dorsal muscles from all three groups for transcriptomic analysis. The findings indicated that both surgical and GnRH-immunised castration methods were effective in producing successful castration outcomes. Compared to the EM group, the expression levels of HADHB, MAFF, and HK2 were significantly down-regulated in the ORC group, whereas FoxO6 and GADD45A were significantly up-regulated; Compared to the EM group, the expression levels of the genes ASS1, FHL3, CCL21, and FNDC1 were significantly upregulated in the IM group. Additionally, when compared to the ORC group, the expression levels of IL17RA, FAM65B, and MYO18B showed significant upregulation in the IM group, while the expression levels of Slc25a17, PDE4B, MKL1, CDH1 and SGK1 were significantly downregulated. Nevertheless, the sample size of this study presents certain limitations, thus, the specific mechanisms underlying this effect still require further in-depth investigation. The GnRH-immunocastration employed in this study elicited the desired castration effect.GnRH-immunocastration may exert beneficial effects on meat quality, muscle growth rate, and antioxidant properties in male Xizang sheep. The GnRH-immunocastration employed in this study elicited the desired castration effect. GnRH-immunocastration may exert beneficial effects on meat quality, muscle growth rate, and antioxidant properties in male Xizang sheep.