Dual regulatory actions of LncBMP4 on BMP4 promote chicken primordial germ cell formation.

The unique characteristics of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) provide potential strategies for transgenic animal generation; however, insufficient PGC availability has limited their application. Regulation of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), a crucial factor for PGCs formation, may provide new strategies for PGC generation. We here identify a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that targets BMP4 (LncBMP4). LncBMP4 has similar functions as BMP4, in that it facilitates the formation and migration of PGCs. LncBMP4 promotes BMP4 expression by adsorbing the miRNA gga-mir-12211, thus reducing its inhibitory effect on BMP4 expression. In addition, the small peptide EPC5 encoded by LncBMP4 promotes the transcription of BMP4. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) effect of LncBMP4 requires N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, in a dose-dependent manner, and high levels of m6A modification hinder EPC5 translation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms through which LncBMP4 promotes BMP4 expression during PGC formation may provide new avenues for efficient PGC generation.

Transcriptome Profiling Unveils Key Genes Regulating the Growth and Development of Yangzhou Goose Knob.

Goose is one of the most economically valuable poultry species and has a distinct appearance due to its possession of a knob. A knob is a hallmark of sexual maturity in goose (Anser cygnoides) and plays crucial roles in artificial selection, health status, social signaling, and body temperature regulation. However, the genetic mechanisms influencing the growth and development of goose knobs remain completely unclear. In this study, histomorphological and transcriptomic analyses of goose knobs in D70, D120, and D300 Yangzhou geese revealed differential changes in tissue morphology during the growth and development of goose knobs and the key core genes that regulate goose knob traits. Observation of tissue sections revealed that as age increased, the thickness of the knob epidermis, cuticle, and spinous cells gradually decreased. Additionally, fat cells in the dermis and subcutaneous connective tissue transitioned from loose to dense. Transcriptome sequencing results, analyzed through differential expression, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and pattern expression analysis methods, showed D70-vs.-D120 (up-regulated: 192; down-regulated: 423), D70-vs.-D300 (up-regulated: 1394; down-regulated: 1893), and D120-vs.-D300 (up-regulated: 1017; down-regulated: 1324). A total of 6243 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, indicating varied expression levels across the three groups in the knob tissues of D70, D120, and D300 Yangzhou geese. These DEGs are significantly enriched in biological processes (BP) such as skin morphogenesis, the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation, and epidermal cell differentiation. Furthermore, they demonstrate enrichment in pathways related to goose knob development, including ECM-receptor interaction, NF-kappa B, and PPAR signaling. Through pattern expression analysis, three gene expression clusters related to goose knob traits were identified. The joint analysis of candidate genes associated with goose knob development and WGCNA led to the identification of key core genes influencing goose knob development. These core genes comprise WNT4, WNT10A, TCF7L2, GATA3, ADRA2A, CASP3, SFN, KDF1, ERRFI1, SPRY1, and EVPL. In summary, this study provides a reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms of goose knob growth and development and provides effective ideas and methods for the genetic improvement of goose knob traits.

[Analysis of three Chinese pedigrees affected with Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus due to variants of SCN1A gene].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of three Chinese pedigrees affected with Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+). METHODS: Three GEFS+ probands and their pedigree members presented at the Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the pedigrees were collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the probands, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the candidate variants. RESULTS: Proband 1 was a 3-year-and-2-month-old male with febrile seizure plus. His father, two aunts, grandmother, aunt grandmother, uncle grandfather, and paternal great-grandmother also had onset of febrile seizures at 1 ~ 2 years of age with remission before 6 years old. Proband 2 was a 1-year-and-4-month-old male with complex febrile seizure. His mother, maternal uncle, and maternal grandmother also had febrile seizures before 5 ~ 6 years of age. Proband 3 was a 3-year-and-11-month-old male with febrile seizure plus. His father and grandfather also had febrile seizures plus with remission at 7 ~ 8 years of age. Genetic testing revealed that proband 1 had harbored a paternally derived heterozygous SCN1A: c.1613T>C variant, proband 2 had harbored a maternally derived heterozygous SCN1A: c.2804A>G variant, and proband 3 had harbored a paternally derived heterozygous SCN1A: c.1271T>C variant. All of the three variants were predicted as likely pathogenic based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (PM1+PM2_Supporting+PP1+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION: The c.1613T>C, c.2804A>G and c.1271T>C variants probably underlay the pathogenesis of GEFS+ in these pedigrees.

A study of land use changes and its impacts on flood inundation in the Konkoure River Basin, Republic of Guinea.

Due to rising land development, mitigating the negative effects of land use change is becoming a problem. Understanding how land development affects flood inundation is critical for long-term water resource management. This study evaluates the land use change in the Konkoure River Basin and its impact on flood inundation. The land use changes were assessed using Landsat image (level 1) in August 2006 and August 2021. In addition, we used GIS and remote sensing applications to assess the degree of changes that took place in the Konkoure watershed. According to the findings, 32.16% of the total area became built-up areas, and 35.51% was converted to other land uses in Konkoure watershed. Konkoure's most significant change is that 29.50% of forest area transformed into built-up areas and other land uses. The rainfall-runoff-inundation model (RRI) based inundation of the Konkoure River Basin was compared to the MODIS extent between 31 August 2006 and 30 August 2021 flood events. Flood inundation variations in the Konkoure watershed were studied in terms of inundation area, peak inundation depth, runoff volume, and the infiltration rate. As a result, the flood inundation area increased from 139.98 to 198.72 km2 and the infiltration rate decrease from 7 to 5 mm/h. Moreover, we used flow duration curves (FDCs) to fully comprehend the streamflow processes. The result indicates that the Konkoure watershed has experienced flooding partly due to land use change.

BMP4 activates the Wnt-Lin28A-Blimp1-Wnt pathway to promote primordial germ cell formation via altering H3K4me2.

The unique developmental characteristics of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) enable them to be used in recovery of endangered bird species, gene editing and the generation of transgenic birds, but the limited number of PGCs greatly limits their application. Studies have shown that the formation of mammalian PGCs is induced by BMP4 signal, but the mechanism underlying chicken PGC formation has not been determined. Here, we confirmed that Wnt signaling activated via BMP4 activates transcription of Lin28A by inducing ß-catenin to compete with LSD1 for binding to TCF7L2, causing LSD1 to dissociate from the Lin28A promoter and enhancing H3K4me2 methylation in this region. Lin28A promotes PGC formation by inhibiting gga-let7a-3p maturation to initiate Blimp1 expression. Interestingly, expression of Blimp1 helped sustain Wnt5A expression by preventing LSD1 binding to the Wnt5A promoter. We thus elucidated a positive feedback pathway involving Wnt-Lin28A-Blimp1-Wnt that ensures PGC formation. In summary, our data provide new insight into the development of PGCs in chickens.

Identification of genes related to growth traits from transcriptome profiles of duck breast muscle tissue.

The growth and development of duck skeletal muscle is an important economic trait that is genetically regulated. The internal mechanism underlying the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and development in ducks remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify candidate genes related to the growth of duck skeletal muscle. RNA-sequencing technology was used to compare the transcriptome of duck breast muscles in an F2 population with the high breast muscle rate (HB) and the low breast muscle rate (LB). A total of 14,522 genes were confirmed to be expressed in the breast muscle, and 173 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the HB and LB groups. Functional analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in biological processes and pathways of fat metabolism and muscle growth, especially the FABP3 and MYL4 involved in the PPAR signaling pathway and cardiac muscle contraction pathway. These findings deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in muscle growth in ducks and provided a theoretical basis for improving duck production and breeding of ducks.

Role and function of the Hintw in early sex differentiation in chicken (Gallus gallus) embryo.

Mono-Sex culturing is an important methodology for intensive livestock and poultry production. Here, Hintw was identified as a potential key gene in sex-determination process in chickens via RNA-seq. Then we developed an effective method to interfere or overexpress Hintw in chicken embryos through the intravascular injection. QRT-PCR, ELISA and H&E staining were used to detect the effects of Hintw on gonadal development of chicken embryos. Results showed that Hintw exhibited a female-biased expression pattern in the early stage of PGCs (primordial germ cells) in embryonic gonads. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that Foxl2, Cyp19a1 in females were upregulated under the overexpression of Hintw, while Sox9 and Dmrt1 were downregulated Hintw. Overexpression of Hintw can promote the development of gonadal cortex, while interference with Hintw show the opposite result. Additionally, we found that overexpression of the Hintw in male chicken embryos could inhibit androgen levels and increase estrogen levels. On the other hand, interfering with Hintw in female chicken embryos decreased estrogen levels and increased androgen levels. In conclusion, this work sets the basis for the understanding of the molecular regulatory network for the sex-determination process in chicken embryos as well as providing the theoretical basis for mono-sex culturing of poultry.

Carcass traits, proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and mineral contents of meat from Cherry Valley, Chinese crested, and crossbred ducks.

Duck meat is known for its taste and high nutritive value. To preserve local genetic diversity while maintaining commercial viability, we obtained a crossbreed (CB) between high-performing Cherry Valley (CV) and traditional Chinese crested (CC) ducks. We compared carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of CB and parental breeds. Meat from the above ducks at their respective marketable ages was evaluated for proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and selected mineral content. The live weights, carcass weights, and breast muscle percentage of CB were higher than CC but lower than CV; the leg muscle of CB was lower than CV and CC. CB had higher intramuscular fat content than CV; its collagen content was lower than CC but higher than CV in breast and thigh muscles. Additionally, the saturated fatty acid content of CB muscle was lower than CV and higher than CC. CB contained more monounsaturated fatty acids than CV and CC. Zn content was higher in CB breast than CV and CC. CB, obtained by crossing CV and CC, has partial advantages over both the breeds suggesting that these characteristics aligned with standards to breed ducks with high-quality meat.

Identification, biogenesis, and function prediction of a novel circRNA_3238 of chicken.

With the development of high-throughput sequencing, circular RNA has come into people's vision and attracted more and more attention. Many studies have found that circular RNA plays an important role in a variety of biological processes and the occurrence and development of diseases. According to the previous sequencing results, circRNA_3238 was differentially expressed in ALV-J infected group and the non-infected group was selected for subsequent verification and analysis. We found that circRNA_3238 is a stable, circular transcript, which mainly exists in the cytoplasm. And it is widely expressed in various tissues of chickens, and highly expressed in lung, lymph, and bursa of fabricius. Bioinformatics results show that circRNA_3238 and the predicted target genes enriched MAPK signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, and other pathways related to disease or immune, revealing circRNA_3238 may indirectly regulate the process of ALV-J infection by regulating target genes.

Effects of Oxidative Stress on the Autophagy and Apoptosis of Granulosa Cells in Broody Geese.

Broodiness is an unfavorable trait associated with the cessation of egg laying. Studies have found that excessive granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy occur during goose broodiness. Other studies have also confirmed that oxidative stress is an important cause of apoptosis and autophagy. However, whether oxidative stress occurs during goose broodiness and whether this oxidative stress causes apoptosis and autophagy have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of oxidative stress on the autophagy and apoptosis of granulosa cells in broody geese. The results showed higher mRNA expression of genes related to antioxidative stress responses (GPX, SOD-1, SOD-2, COX-2, CAT and hsp70) in pre-broody and broody geese than in laying birds. In addition, increased levels of granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy were observed in pre-broody geese than in laying geese. Additionally, granulosa cells treated with H2O2 exhibited increased apoptosis and autophagy in vitro, and these effects were responsible for goose granulosa cell death. Moreover, vitamin E treatment effectively protected granulosa cells from H2O2-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting ROS production. Correspondingly, granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy were greatly alleviated by vitamin E treatment. Together, our results demonstrated serious oxidative stress and granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy in broody geese, and oxidative stress promoted apoptosis and autophagy. Vitamin E alleviated the autophagy and apoptosis of granulosa cells by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Phosphoproteome Reveals Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation Mediated by Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase-Regulating Granulosa Cell Apoptosis in Broody Geese.

Geese have strong brooding abilities, which severely affect their egg-laying performance. Phosphorylation is widely involved in regulating reproductive activities, but its role in goose brooding behavior is unclear. In this study, we investigated differences in the phosphoprotein composition of ovarian tissue between laying and brooding geese. Brooding geese exhibited ovarian and follicular atrophy, as well as significant oxidative stress and granulosa cell apoptosis. We identified 578 highly phosphorylated proteins and 281 lowly phosphorylated proteins, and a KEGG pathway analysis showed that these differentially phosphorylated proteins were mainly involved in cell apoptosis, adhesion junctions, and other signaling pathways related to goose brooding behavior. The extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK)-B-Cell Lymphoma 2(BCL2) signaling pathway was identified as playing an important role in regulating cell apoptosis. The phosphorylation levels of ERK proteins were significantly lower in brooding geese than in laying geese, and the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) was downregulated. Overexpression of MEK led to a significant increase in ERK phosphorylation and BCL2 transcription in H2O2-induced granulosa cells (p < 0.05), partially rescuing cell death. Conversely, granulosa cells receiving MEK siRNA exhibited the opposite trend. In conclusion, geese experience significant oxidative stress and granulosa cell apoptosis during brooding, with downregulated MEK expression, decreased phosphorylation of ERK protein, and inhibited expression of BCL2.

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides).

The photoperiod is the predominant environmental factor that governs seasonal reproduction in animals; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, Yangzhou geese (Anser cygnoides) were selected at the spring equinox (SE), summer solstice (SS), autumn equinox (AE), and winter solstice (WS), and the regulation of seasonal reproduction via the light-driven cyclical secretion of pineal melatonin was investigated. We show that there were seasonal variations in the laying rate and GSI, while the ovarian area decreased 1.5-fold from the SS to the AE. Moreover, not only did the weight and volume of the pineal gland increase with a shortened photoperiod, but the secretory activity was also enhanced. Notably, tissue distribution further revealed seasonal oscillations in melatonin receptors (Mtnrs) in the pineal gland and the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The immunohistochemical staining indicated higher Mtnr levels due to the shortened photoperiod. Furthermore, the upregulation of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) was observed from the SS to the AE, concurrently resulting in a downregulation of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropins (GtHs). This trend was also evident in the secretion of hormones. These data indicate that melatonin secretion during specific seasons is indicative of alterations in the photoperiod, thereby allowing for insight into the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction via an intrinsic molecular depiction of external photoperiodic variations.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics and genetic variants in a child with Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency (ISOD). METHODS: The child and her parents were subjected to targeted capture and next-generation sequencing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was assessed based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). RESULTS: The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the SUOX gene, namely c.1200C>G (p.Tyr400*) and c.1406_1421delCCTGGCAGGTGGCTAA (p.Thr469Serfs*20), which were inherited from her mother and father, respectively. The c.1200C>G was a known pathogenic variant, while the c.1406_1421delCCTGGCAGGTGGCTAA was unreported previously and predicted to be a pathogenic variant (PVS1+PM2_Supporting +PM3) based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. CONCLUSION: The compound c.1200C>G and c.1406_1421delCCTGGCAGGTGGCTAA variants of the SUOX gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of ISOD in this child. Above finding has expanded the spectrum of SUOX gene variants and provided molecular evidence for the clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling for this pedigree.

Characterization and expression of MUSTN1 gene from different duck breeds.

Muscle growth rate and muscle mass are important economic traits in animal production. Musculoskeletal embryonic nuclear protein 1 (MUSTN1) gene has been implicated in myofusion as well as skeletal muscle growth and repair; however, the exact role and expression of MUSTN1 in different duck breeds are not fully understood. To gain insights into the biological functions of MUSTN1 in skeletal muscle development, the MUSTN1 coding sequence of Pekin ducks (BD) and Cherry Valley ducks (CD) was compared to various other animals using the Editseq in DNAstar and MEGA software. The results showed that the duck had the highest homology with chicken. The RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to estimate the mRNA and protein expression pattern of MUSTN1 in leg muscles of BD and CD at 3 and 6-weeks of age. At 3 weeks of age, the mRNA and protein expression levels of MUSTN1 were significantly higher in BD than in CD (p < 0.05). At 6 weeks, the expression level was higher in BD than in CD. In conclusion, MUSTN1 might play a key role in positive regulation of muscle growth and development of ducks.

Identification, biogenesis and function prediction of novel circRNA during the chicken ALV-J infection.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a new non-coding RNA with a highly conserved and stable covalently closed loop structure, and it plays an important role in a variety of biological processes and the occurrence of diseases. Based on the sequencing results, circRNA_3079 had the most significant difference between the infected group and normal group, up to about 8 times. It has attracted our attention and was selected for further verification and analysis. Though the characteristics analysis of circRNA_3079 in chicken, we found circRNA_3079 is a stable, circular transcript, which mainly exists in the cytoplasm. And it is widely expressed in various tissues of chickens, and highly expressed in lung, spleen, lymph and bursa of fabricius. Bioinformatics analysis results showed that circRNA_3079 and the predicted target genes are enriched in many pathways related to immunity or tumors, such as p53 signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, which revealed that circRNA_3079 may indirectly regulate the ALV-J infection process through the regulation of target genes.HIGHLIGHTSCircRNA_3079 is an abundant and stable circular RNA expressed in different tissues and cells in chicken.The circularization of circRNA_3079 does not depend on the reverse complementary repetitive sequence of the flanking sequence.CircRNA_3079 may indirectly regulate the ALV-J infection process.

Identification and characterization of the adipogenesis in intramuscular and subcutaneous adipocytes of the goose (Anser cygnoides).

Chinese geese are domesticated from wild swan (Anser cygnoides), which have maintained a strong capacity of fat deposit. Fat mainly distributes subcutaneous, abdominal, intermuscular or intramuscular in poultry, and they display some special physiological and biochemical characteristics in different parts. This study aimed to characterize the adipogenesis in intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) adipocytes of the goose. Here, IM and SC preadipocytes were isolated from the 26-day-old Yangzhou goose embryos, and subsequently induced them to differentiate into mature adipocytes. The results showed that SC preadipocytes grew a little faster than IM preadipocytes during the logarithmic multiplication phase (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, SC adipocytes accumulated more lipid than IM adipocytes during the differentiation process in vitro (p < 0.01). In addition, the expression level of key genes involved in adipogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ/α (PPARγ/α), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α/ß (C/EBPα/ß), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were detected. PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4, and LPL, were predominantly expressed in SC adipocytes, whereas C/EBPß was highly expressed in IM adipocytes. Taken together, these results demonstrated that SC preadipocytes tended to grow faster and accumulate more lipid than IM adipocytes, and show greater potential for adipogenesis.

Effect of different free-range systems on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of Yangzhou geese.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different free-range systems on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of geese. Grass pasture zones in the study area were selected, and 28 d-old male Yangzhou geese with similar body weights (1.57 ± 0.12 kg) were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (A) free-range conditions in the apron area during 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (10-20 m from shed with grass pasture); (B) free-range conditions in the outer range from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (beyond 50 m from shed with grass pasture); and (C) barn system. Free range-reared geese had higher weight gain after 42 days of age than barn-reared geese, regardless of the range area. A lower feed conversion ratio was found in outer range-reared and apron area-reared geese from 28 to 63 days of age. In addition, the highest percentages of leg and breast muscle weights were observed in outer range-reared and apron area-reared geese, respectively. Finally, outer-range rearing resulted in a lower pH and lower moisture content. Therefore, these data suggest that the outer range system benefits growth performance and feed conversion ratio of geese and results in a higher percentage of leg muscle weight, lower pH, and lower moisture content.

Molecular cloning, tissue distribution and function analysis of duck TLR7.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in detecting pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Among the TLRs, TLR7 is involved in the recognition of antiviral compounds and single-stranded RNA. This study was designed to explore the structure and function of TLR7 in duck (Anas platyrhynchos), a natural host for avian influenza virus. Firstly, the full-length cDNA of Shaoxing egg-laying duck TLR7 (duTLR7) was obtained using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). It consisted of 38 base pairs (bp) 5'-untranslated region (UTR), 187 bp 3'-UTR, and 3270 bp open reading frame that encodes a single protein of 1089 amino acid residues. DuTLR7 shares high identity with TLR7 genes from other vertebrates. In healthy ducks, duTLR7 transcripts were broadly expressed in different tissues, with higher expression levels in the liver, kidney, and thymus. The highest relative transcript level of duTLR7 could be induced with R848 stimulation. In addition, overexpression of duTLR7 by stimulating with poly(I:C) significantly promoted IFN-ß, NF-κB, IRF7, TRIF, Mx, STAT1 and STAT2 expressions. Taken together, these results suggest that TLR7 may play an important role in the innate immune response of ducks.

Effect of stocking density on performance, meat quality and cecal bacterial communities of yellow feather broilers.

Totally, 315 42-day-old male Xueshan chickens were allocated into 3 caging densities, 14, 21 and 28 birds/m2. Each treatment was represented by 5 replicates. The body weight (BW), slaughter performance, meat quality, behavioral assessment, and the cecal microorganisms were detected at the market age. The results showed that the BW of broilers in the low- and medium-density groups was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the high-density group from the age of 10 weeks. Only the feather quality of the broilers in the low-density group improved significantly (p < 0.05) compared with those of the other two groups. And, the abdominal fat percentage and the fat content of thigh muscle of broilers in the low- and medium-density groups were higher (p < 0.05) than those in the high-density group. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was noted in the other traits. The abundance of some microbial like Akkermansiaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Faecalibacterium may be correlated with the BW and fat content of broilers. The findings of this study suggest that increasing the stocking density decreased the final BW, fat content and the feather quality, whereas no evidence was found that stocking density caused changes in other parameters.

MiR-34c-5p promotes granulosa cells apoptosis by targeting Bcl2 in broody goose (Anser cygnoides).

Goose (Anser cygnoides) are highly broody with low egg production, and large number of granulosa cells undergo apoptosis during broodiness. Our previous study has found that miR-34c-5p was highly abundant in the ovary of goose with broodiness phenotype. However, the mechanism that miR-34c-5p regulates granulosa cells function remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that broody goose had higher levels of miR-34c-5p than that in laying goose by qRT-PCR. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that Bcl2 was identified as a direct target of miR-34c-5p, which could be negatively regulated by miR-34c-5p. Furthermore, over-expression of miR-34c-5p significantly increased the rate of apoptosis and slowed down the proliferation of granulosa cells by inhibiting the Bcl2 expression, whereas the opposite trend was obtained when granulosa cells were supplemented with miR-34c-5p inhibitors. In addition, Bcl2 mRNA level was lower in goose with a brooding phenotype than that in goose with an egg-laying phenotype. Taken together, the data suggested that miR-34c-5p regulated granulosa cells apoptosis and brooding behavior by targeting Bcl2, which not only contribute to reveal the potential mechanism of miR-34c-5p underlying granulosa cells apoptosis in goose, but also provides an effective strategy to reduce the incidence of broodiness and improve the egg production.