Postnatal Expression of Growth/Differentiation Factor-8 (GDF-8) Gene in European and Asian Pigs

Lin, C. S.; Wu, Y. C.; Sun, Y. L.; Huang, M. C.

doi:2002.15.9.1244

Article

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2002;15(9): 1244-1249.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2002.1244 Published online January 1, 2002.

Postnatal Expression of Growth/Differentiation Factor-8 (GDF-8) Gene in European and Asian Pigs

C. S. Lin, Y. C. Wu, Y. L. Sun, M. C. Huang

Abstract

Myostatin (growth differentiation factor (GDF)-8), is one member of the transforming growth factor superfamily. Investigations of GDF-8 null mice and double-muscled cattle revealed that GDF-8 has a profound influence upon skeletal muscle growth. Therefore, the GDF-8 effect upon the productive performance of pigs is worth exploring. In the present study, the nucleotide sequences and expression levels of GDF-8 genes in European pigs (Landrace and Duroc) and Asian pigs (Taoyuan and Small-ear) were evaluated. Based upon their genetic background these breeds possess significantly distinct growth rate and muscle production-phenotypes. Our sequence data showed that the nucleotide sequences of European and Asian pigs were 100% similar. Postnatal expression of GDF-8 gene in skeletal muscles, from birth to 12 mo of age, among different breeds was measured. GDF-8 expression levels in the longissimus muscle of neonatal European breed littermates were the highest, however it declined significantly (p<0.05) at 1 and 3 mo, and then increased gradually at 6 to 12 mo. The Asian breeds, however, GDF-8 expression level increased markedly at 3 mo and maintained a constant level thereafter. The results indicate that rather than polymorphism within the GDF-8 functional sequence between European and Asia breeds, it was relative to the gene regulation in postnatal muscle growth.

Keywords: Growth Differentiation Factor-8; Skeletal Muscle; Pig; Gene Expression; Myostatin