Tissue-Specific Expression and Laying-Performance Responsiveness of FXR1 PRL, GnRH2, and TFPI2 in Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Boyi, B.; Mancha, Y. P.; Kalla, D. J. U.; Muhammad, A. S.; Mbap, S. T.; Kurya, B.; Adebambo, D. A.; Wheto, M.; Akinyemi, O. M.; Durodola, O. H.; Adeyekun, S. O.; Oladosu, O. O.; Olanloye, R. O.; Adebambo, O. A.

doi:10.70382/ajbar.v13i1.047

Authors

Boyi, B. Federal University Gashua, Yobe State Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1491-4252
Mancha, Y. P. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State Nigeria Author
Kalla, D. J. U. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State Nigeria Author
Muhammad, A. S. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State Nigeria Author
Mbap, S. T. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State Nigeria Author
Kurya, B. Adelaide University, School Agriculture, Food and Wine, Waite Campus, Urrbrae 5064, Adelaide, South Australia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1660-0046
Adebambo, D. A. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6333-1784
Wheto, M. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8154-1524
Akinyemi, O. M. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3423-8185
Durodola, O. H. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9130-1202
Adeyekun, S. O. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4813-8621
Oladosu, O. O. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3059-8566
Olanloye, R. O. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author
Adebambo, O. A. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2808-3701

Abstract

Tissue-specific gene expression offers crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning neuroendocrine, reproductive, and metabolic processes in helmeted guinea fowls. However, tissue-to-tissue variations and laying group responses among candidate genes remain poorly understood. This study assessed the expression of four candidate genes Fragile X-related protein 1 (FXR1), gonadotropin releasing hormone 2 (GnRH2), Prolactin (PRL), and Tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) across the brain, liver, and ovary under two experimental conditions (T1: high layers; T2: low layers) using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) standardised against TATABOX as house-keeping gene. Across tissues and laying groups, the candidate genes exhibited distinct expression patterns. FXR1 demonstrated a significant main effect of tissue, driven primarily by brain versus liver differences. Prolactin (PRL) showed a significant overall group impact (F=10.980,P=0.0041), making as the most responsive gene to egg-laying performance with decreased expression under T2, particularly in the liver and ovaries. However, GnRH2 showed the largest tissue-associated effect among the candidate genes (F = 9.931, P = 0.0012), with brain expression considerably different from both liver and ovary while TFPI2 exhibited stable expression with no significant tissue, group or interaction effects. These findings emphasize the importance of tissue context when evaluating reproductive gene-expression patterns, highlighting PRL as a key target for laying performance-associated reproductive responses. Further research integrating protein levels, circulating hormones, and reproductive phenotypes is necessary.