Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Advances in Molecular Research in Animal Reproduction
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances in Molecular Research in Animal Reproduction

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1162

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. He Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Interests: animals; reproduction; molecular; regulation; genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Advances in Molecular Research in Animal Reproduction”, focuses on cutting-edge innovative research on molecular mechanisms in the field of animal reproduction. It systematically covers key areas, including the core genetic regulation of spermatogenesis and oogenesis, signaling networks in early embryonic development, molecular mechanisms of reproductive hormone pathways, regulatory mechanisms of epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation), and the molecular impacts of environmental factors on reproductive functions.

This Special Issue compiles research findings from multiple species such as livestock, poultry, and model animals, integrates the application of new technologies including single-cell sequencing, gene editing, and bioinformatics analysis, and comprehensively presents the latest breakthroughs in fields like germ cell development, regulation of embryonic implantation, and pathogenic mechanisms of reproductive disorders. The collection serves as a high-level academic exchange platform for researchers worldwide, facilitating both theoretical innovation in animal reproductive biology and the technological transformation and application in areas such as animal husbandry and reproductive medicine.

Prof. Dr. He Huang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal reproduction
  • molecular regulation
  • spermatogenesis
  • embryonic development
  • epigenetics
  • reproductive hormones
  • oogenesis
  • environmental factors

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 6172 KB  
Article
Characterization of Seminal Plasma Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNAs and Their Association with Boar Semen Quality During the Summer Season
by Notsile H. Dlamini, Serge L. Kameni, Shengfa F. Liao and Jean M. Feugang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(10), 4548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104548 - 19 May 2026
Abstract
Boar fertility is negatively affected by subfertility and elevated temperatures, which alter seminal plasma (SP) composition and reduce semen quality. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in SP transfer microRNAs (miRNAs) to sperm and may influence sperm function. This study aimed to identify SP-EV microRNAs associated [...] Read more.
Boar fertility is negatively affected by subfertility and elevated temperatures, which alter seminal plasma (SP) composition and reduce semen quality. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in SP transfer microRNAs (miRNAs) to sperm and may influence sperm function. This study aimed to identify SP-EV microRNAs associated with differences in boar semen quality during the summer season. Semen collected from Duroc boars was evaluated and classified as Passed (≥70%) or Failed (<70%) based on sperm quality parameters. SP-EVs were isolated and characterized, and small RNA sequencing was performed to profile miRNA content. SP-EVs ranged from 90 to 200 nm, with concentrations of 4.33 × 1010 particles/mL in the Passed group and 1.85 × 1011 particles/mL in the Failed group. Western blotting confirmed the presence of EV surface markers CD9, CD63, and CD81. A total of 446 unique miRNAs were identified, with 28 downregulated and two upregulated miRNAs in Passed compared with Failed SP-EVs. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis revealed that target genes of upregulated miRNAs were involved in sperm-related biological processes and PI3K-Akt, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and ErbB signaling pathways. These findings demonstrate that SP-EV miRNAs reflect physiological responses to changes in environmental conditions and may contribute to the regulation of boar semen quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research in Animal Reproduction)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6438 KB  
Article
Integrative Transcriptomic, Proteomic and Epigenetic Analysis Uncovers Reproductive Dysregulation in F1 Males of Solea senegalensis
by Marco Anaya-Romero, Alberto Arias-Pérez, Daniel Ramírez, María Esther Rodríguez, Manuel Alejandro Merlo, Silvia Portela-Bens, Ismael Cross, Diego Robledo and Laureana Rebordinos
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(5), 2153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27052153 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 878
Abstract
Reproductive dysfunction in captive-bred males of the flatfish Solea senegalensis remains a major bottleneck for its aquaculture. To clarify the molecular basis underlying these impairments, we performed an integrated analysis of transcriptomes, proteomes and methylomes from gonads of wild-type individuals and first-generation (F1) [...] Read more.
Reproductive dysfunction in captive-bred males of the flatfish Solea senegalensis remains a major bottleneck for its aquaculture. To clarify the molecular basis underlying these impairments, we performed an integrated analysis of transcriptomes, proteomes and methylomes from gonads of wild-type individuals and first-generation (F1) captive fish of both sexes. Nineteen RNA-seq libraries and eighteen LC–MS/MS proteomes were generated, allowing the quantification of more than 32,000 genes and 2221 proteins. Differential expression and principal component analyses revealed that sex was the primary driver of molecular variation, whereas origin (F1 vs. wild-type) had a more moderate effect. Multi-omics integration showed a partial and comparison-dependent correspondence between RNA and protein levels, with a marked RNA–protein decoupling in F1 males. Despite this limited concordance, functional enrichment analyses identified consistent regulation of key biological processes, including translation, energy metabolism, and reproductive pathways such as gametogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Within this regulatory framework, previously characterized DNA methylation landscapes in gonadal tissue suggest an additional epigenetic layer modulating the transcriptional potential of reproductive genes, particularly in captive-bred males. F1 males exhibited coordinated down-regulation of reproductive functions across omic layers, consistent with altered post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive multi-omics framework integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenetic information in S. senegalensis gonads, offering mechanistic insights into the molecular basis of reproductive dysfunction in F1 broodstock and supporting future strategies to improve reproductive performance in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research in Animal Reproduction)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop