Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (4): 1441-1451.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2023.04.009

• ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression of AGRP Gene in Goat Tissue and Its Action Mechanism on Melanin Production

CHEN Cancan1,2, JIANG Jing1,2, SUN Xiaoyan1,2, REN Hangxing1,2, LI Jie1,2*   

  1. 1. Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, China;
    2. Chongqing Center for Goat Research, Chongqing 402460, China
  • Received:2022-08-30 Online:2023-04-23 Published:2023-04-27

Abstract: In order to elucidate the expression pattern of AGRP gene in goat skin and its action mechanism on melanin production. The tissue expression level of AGRP gene in different tissues of Youzhou dark goats and skin tissue of 3 Banjiao goats were detected by qRT-PCR. And the effects of exogenous AGRP protein at different concentrations on melanocytes were analyzed by in vitro experiments. The cell viability was detected by EdU method, and cAMP activity was detected by cyclic adenosine monophosphate kit, as well as its effects on the content of eumelanin and the mRNA expression of melanin-related genes MC1R, TYR, TYRP1 and DCT. This results showed that AGRP gene was expressed in different tissues of Youzhou dark goats and its expression in the pituitary gland was the highest (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of AGRP in the skin of Banjiao goat and Youzhou dark goat were significantly different (P<0.05). The addition of different concentrations of AGRP protein had no significant effect on the melanin production and proliferation of melanocytes (P>0.05). cAMP activity in the melanin production pathway significantly decreased (P<0.05) with the increasing of AGRP concentration. The 200 nmol·L-1 AGRP significantly inhibited the expression of MC1R mRNA and enhanced the mRNA expression of TYR and TYRP1 (P<0.05). The addition of exogenous α-MSH at different concentrations could significantly (P<0.05) salvage the effects of AGRP on function of melanocyte. AGRP gene is closely related to that phenotype of Youzhou dark goat skin. Determining the biological function of AGRP in melanin production can lay the foundation for further revealing the mechanism of AGRP on melanin deposition in skin of Youzhou dark goat.

Key words: Youzhou dark goat, AGRP, gene expression, melanocyte

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