Transcriptome and small RNA landscapes of tree shrew testes and epididymides during reproductive and non-reproductive seasons

However, comprehensive and systematic data resources on the molecular expression features associated with this physiological phenomenon are still lacking. In this study, we utilized the Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform to perform RNA-seq and small RNA-seq on testicular (Testis), caput epididymis (Caput), and caudal epididymis (Cauda) tissues collected from male tree shrews during both breeding (R) and non-breeding (NR) seasons.

These analyses were performed to generate a paired transcriptomic and small RNA dataset covering multiple tissues and seasonal states. RNA-seq analysis identified 21,299 expressed genes, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify modules and candidate genes significantly associated with reproductive status. The small RNA-seq data systematically characterized the composition and expression landscapes of miRNAs and piRNAs, leading to the identification of 263 novel miRNAs, 59,590 piRNAs, and 139 piRNA clusters.