Transcriptomic Analysis of Starvation on the Silkworm Brain

SIMPLE SUMMARY: To shed light on the influence of starvation on animal brains, a comprehensive transcriptome analysis was carried out on silkworms. The subsequent enrichment analysis unveiled noteworthy changes in pathways associated with tissue structure, hormone metabolism, longevity, nucleic acid metabolism, immune response, and disease within the silkworm brain after the period of starvation. ABSTRACT: Starvation imposes significant stress on animal survival and development, resulting in organ damage within the organism. The brain, being one of the most vital organs in animals, plays a crucial role in coordinating the physiological functions of other organs. However, performing brain experiments on the human body is challenging. In this work, we selected the silkworm, a model Lepidoptera organism, due to its favorable characteristics. A comprehensive transcriptome analysis was conducted on the brain of silkworm subjected to starvation treatment. The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significant alterations in 330 genes following the period of starvation. Through an enrichment analysis, we successfully identified pathways associated with metabolism, hormones, immunity, and diseases. Our findings highlight the transcriptional response of the brain to starvation, providing valuable insights for comprehending the impact of starvation stress in other animals.