Meleagris gallopavo breed:Converter Raw sequence reads

Avian sperm storage is extremely limited once semen is collected for artificial insemination but can occur for prolonged periods of time in the reproductive tract of the hen within specialized structure called sperm storage tubules, located in the uterovaginal junction portion of the oviduct. In addition, the sperm storage tubules appear to play a role in selecting only optimal sperm for storage and clearing suboptimal sperm from the reproductive tract. Despite the key role that sperm storage tubules play in determining the hen fertility, the mechanisms regulating sperm entrance, maintenance, and exit from sperm storage tubules remain largely unknown. This study used a global gene expression approach to compare gene expression profiles at five different timepoints throughout the sperm storage period to gain a deeper understanding of how sperm storage tubules function and regulate sperm dynamics. New findings related to innate and acquired immune responses, sperm mobility suppression, lipid synthesis and transfer, steroid hormone regulation, ion balance homeostasis in sperm storage tubules were obtained through this study. This study provides direction for further research aims, with the ultimate goal of exploiting the sperm storage mechanisms exhibited in sperm storage tubules to improve the capacity for semen storage prior to artificial insemination.