Table 1

Primer sequences for RT-PCR"

Table 2

Primary and secondary antibodies and their respective dilutions"

Fig. 1

Effects of TZD on chicken growth and related hormones A. Effect of TZD on the growth of chicks. ADFI. Average daily feed intake; AGD. Average daily gain; F/G ratio. Feed/gain ratio; Data are expressed as "$\bar x \pm s$" (n=40 for each group), compared with the control group, according to t test, *. P < 0.05; B. Serum ATP level; C. Serum adiponectin level; D. Serum insulin (INS) level; E. Serum levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2); Data are represented as $\bar x \pm s$ (n=20 per group). For the female treatment group compared with the female control group, according to the t test *. P < 0.05, **. P < 0.01; for the male treatment group compared with the male control group, according to the t test, #. P < 0.05, ##. P < 0.01"

Fig. 2

Effects of TZD on ATP level and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in the liver, kidney, and muscle of chicks A. ATP level; B. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) level; C. Cytochrome C oxidase activity; D. ATP synthase activity; Data are represented as "$\bar x \pm s$" (n=10 per group). For the female treatment group compared with the female control group according to the t test, *. P < 0.05 **. P < 0.01; for the male treatment group compared with the male control group according to the t test, #. P < 0.05, ##. P < 0.01"

Fig. 3

Effects of TZD on mRNA transcriptional level of growth-related genes in the liver, kidney, and muscle of chicks A. Relative mRNA levels of adiponectin (ADIPOQ), adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1), adiponectin receptor 2 (ADIPOR2), AMP-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the liver of TZD-treated chicks; B. Relative mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), insulin (INS), insulin receptor (INSR), phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) in the liver of TZD-treated chicks; C. Relative mRNA levels of p21, p27, Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and Cyclin E1 in the liver of TZD-treated chicks; D-F and G-I show relative mRNA levels of above genes in the kidney and muscle respectively; Data are represented as $\bar x \pm s$ (n=3 per group). For the female treatment group compared with the female control group according to the t test, *. P < 0.05, **. P < 0.01; for the male treatment group compared with the male control group according to the t test, #. P < 0.05, ##. P < 0.01"

Fig. 4

Effects of TZD on growth-related protein expression in the muscle of chicks A. Western blot analysis of protein bands; B. p-AMPKα2/AMPKα2 ratio; C. p-mTOR/mTOR ratio; D. Relative protein level of adiponectin; E. Relative protein levels of IGF1R, INSR, PIK3CA, and AKT1; F. Relative protein levels of p21, p27, CDK2, and Cyclin E1; Data are represented as "$\bar x \pm s$" (n=3 per group). For the female treatment group compared with the female control group according to the t test, *. P < 0.05, **. P < 0.01; for the male treatment group compared with the male control group according to the t test, #. P < 0.05, ##. P < 0.01"