LncRNA TCONS_00131158 promotes testosterone synthesis and Leydig cell proliferation via the miR-30c-3p/SERPINH1Axis in goats

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal regulatory roles in mammalian male reproduction; however, the specific mechanisms governing testicular maturation and puberty onset in goats remain elusive. Here, we characterized the morphometric and transcriptomic profiles of Qianbei Ma goat testes at 0, 6, 12, and 18 months of age. We identified the 0 to 6-month interval as a critical window for testicular development, marked by rapid seminiferous tubule expansion and a surge in serum testosterone. This period coincided with extensive transcriptomic reprogramming, leading to the identification of a key regulator, lncRNA TCONS_00131158. Mechanistically, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, demonstrating that TCONS_00131158 acts as a molecular sponge for miR-30c-3p, thereby derepressing its target gene, SERPINH1. Functional assays revealed that TCONS_00131158 knockdown impaired Leydig cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and downregulated key steroidogenic enzymes (e.g., STAR, CYP11A1), reducing testosterone secretion. Conversely, SERPINH1 overexpression reversed miR-30c-3p-mediated repression, exhibiting pro-steroidogenic activity mirroring that of TCONS_00131158. This study elucidates the essential role of the TCONS_00131158/miR-30c-3p/SERPINH1 axis in regulating Leydig cell function and testosterone biosynthesis, offering a novel epigenetic marker for early selection of male reproductive potential in livestock.