ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2017, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (11): 2115-2124.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2017.11.013

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Effect of Dietary Protein on Adipocyte and Myofiber Development and Related Gene Expression of Rongchang Pigs

ZHANG Jie1, LIU Yi-hui2, HE Hang1, LUO Zong-gang1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Rongchang 402460, China;
    2. Sichuan Provincial General Station for Animal Husbandry, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2017-05-16 Online:2017-11-23 Published:2017-11-23

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary protein on slaughter performance, cell size, gene expression and mtDNA copy number in Rongchang pigs during fattening period. Twenty-four Rongchang pigs with similar body weight were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups:low protein group (10.50%) and high protein group (16.50%). Each group had 3 replicates and 4 pigs per replicate. After the trial, all pigs were slaughtered, the growth performance, slaughter performance, adipocyte volume and myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA) were detected. qRT-PCR was used to analyze mRNA expression and mtDNA copy number. The results showed that:1) The carcass weight, fat percentage, backfat thickness and adipocyte volume of the high protein group were significantly higher than that of low protein group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in lean meat percentage, loin muscle area and myofiber cross-sectional area between the 2 groups (P>0.05). 2) Compared with the low protein group, the expression of lipolysis gene ADIPOR1, ADIPOR2 and LPL in the high protein group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the expression of lipogenesis gene FABP5, FTO and UCP2 were significantly increased (P<0.01), the expression of SCD was not significantly changed (P>0.05). The expression levels of muscle growth gene MYOG, MYOZ1, MYOD1 and IGF1 were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the expression of gene MSTN was not significantly changed (P>0.05). 3) Compared with the low protein group, The copy number of mtDNA in adipocytes and myofibers of high protein group was significantly increased (P<0.05). These results indicate that the dietary protein can influence on the growth and development of Rongchang pig during the fattening period at the molecular and phenotypic levels, and high protein diet can enhance the fat deposition.

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