Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41013201›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

Age-related reproductive performance and transcriptome profiling of testis in male blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus.

Samitha S N Liyanage, Brian G Bosworth, Kaylan A Martin, Kyle R Wood, Alexandra E Nowicki, Jason W Abernathy, Nithin Muliya Sankappa, Benjamin H Beck, Timothy J Bruce, Matthew K Litvak and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Samitha S N LiyanageSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Brian G BosworthWarmwater Aquaculture Research Unit, Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Stoneville, MS, USA.
Kaylan A MartinSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Kyle R WoodSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Alexandra E NowickiSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Jason W AbernathyUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL, USA.
Nithin Muliya SankappaUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL, USA.
Benjamin H BeckUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Auburn, AL, USA.
Timothy J BruceSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Matthew K LitvakDepartment of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada.
Rex A DunhamSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Luke A RoySchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Xu WangDepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Ian A E ButtsSchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. iab0007@auburn.edu.

Funding

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2020-67015-31874USDA ARS and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project 1013854 (IAEB)USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture 2023-67016-39455
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Catfish farming is the largest aquaculture industry in the U.S., where hybrid catfish produced by channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus ♀ × blue catfish, I. furcatus ♂, represent > 50% of the harvest. Previous studies indicated a high degree of variation in reproductive performance among individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a connection between paternal age and reproductive success. This study investigated the reproduction of 103 blue catfish males aged 2 to 10 years. Morphometric data were collected, and blood was drawn to quantify testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), osmolality, and ions. Histological images of the testis assessed stages of spermatogenesis, and sperm were activated for kinematic analysis. The testis transcriptome was profiled across distinct ages, 2, 4, 7, and 9. For fish aged 2 to 10 years, those over 7 years had the largest size, with a rapid increase until age 7 and a slight increase afterwards. Absolute sperm production was affected by age, with the highest levels observed at age 6, followed by a decreasing trend. T and 11-KT did not increase after age 6, while sperm kinematics were not impacted by age. Transcriptomics identified 5220 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in all comparisons. The most DEGs were identified at age 7 with 2261 down-regulated and 1824 up-regulated genes. Functional enrichment revealed significant changes in axoneme, motile cilium, and sperm flagellum at age 7. In contrast, immune processes were increased in the testis at age 9 with viral and bacterial defense responses. Results suggest that farmers should maintain consistent supplies of age 6 and 7 males to increase hatchery efficiency.

Indexed as

AgingGene Expression ProfilingIctaluridaeReproductionTestisTranscriptomeAge FactorsAnimalsMaleSpermatogenesisSpermatozoaTestosteroneTestosteroneAquacultureCASAReproductive biologySex steroidSpermatogenesisTranscriptome

Identifiers

PMID41013201
PMCPMC12465291

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.