The investigation of molecular mechanisms influencing variations of sternum calcification in ducks by integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Yinjuan Lu, Zhengyang Shen, Xu Han, Yuan Bai, Lili Bai, Yuanchun Zhu, Jiwei Hu, Hehe Liu, Liang Li

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Poultry science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Yinjuan LuState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Zhengyang ShenState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Xu HanState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Yuan BaiState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Lili BaiState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Yuanchun ZhuFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Jiwei HuState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Hehe LiuState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.

Liang LiState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China. Electronic address: liliang@sicau.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In ducks, the sternum is the largest flat bone. Its calcification affects breast muscle development, health, and economic value. Delayed calcification can lead to sternum fractures during feeding, slaughter. Thus, we need to understand the molecular basis of sternum calcification. We compared two duck breeds with different body sizes: the fast-growing, large-bodied Cherry Valley (CV) and the smaller-bodied Huaifu (HF) ducks. Results showed a positive correlation between sternum calcification rate and both calcification length and breaking strength (r > 0.4). HF had a higher calcification rate (99%) than CV (95%), and females (HFM: 100%; CVM: 97%) had higher rates than males (HFG: 97%; CVG: 94%). Breaking strength was also higher in HF (43.29 N) than in CV (36.1 N), with females outperforming males. We performed RNA-seq and LC-MS metabolomics on sternal tissues. A clear contrast in gene expression appeared between nearly fully calcified Huaifu males (HFG) and females (HFM): genes including FGF6, BDNF, HTR4, MYLK2, MAP3K6, and CER1 were barely expressed. But these genes were significantly upregulated in CV compared to HF, in CVM compared to CVG, and in high-breaking-strength (HB) versus low-breaking-strength (DB) groups. Those genes showed low expression in fully calcified or non-calcified sterna but high expression during active calcification, suggesting they help drive calcification. Our study identifies multiple biomarkers linked to duck sternum development and offers new insights into avian sternum ossification, which may help improve poultry production and welfare.

Indexed as

DuckGene expressionMetabolomicSternum CalcificationTranscriptomic

Identifiers

PMID42696991

DOI10.1016/j.psj.2026.107558

PMCPMC13572528

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.