Single-cell RNA sequencing unveils dynamic transcriptional profiles during the process of donkey spermatogenesis and maturation

With the increasing demand for donkey production, there has been a growing focus on the breeding of donkeys. However, our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys during reproduction remains limited. This study is to provide a comprehensive single-cell landscape analysis of spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate cell composition, gene expression patterns, and regulatory roles during spermatogenesis and maturation in donkeys. The expression patterns of CDK1, CETN3, and UBE2J1 were found to be indicative of specific germ cells during donkey spermatogenesis. Additionally, the DEFB121, ELSPBP1, and NPC2 genes were specifically identified in the principal cells of the donkey epididymis. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the cellular composition and spatial distribution of donkey testis and epididymis, thereby generating comprehensive transcriptional atlases at the single-cell resolution.