Selection is the basic tool to exploit and improve the productive potential oflivestock. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effect of selectingJapanese quail at 4-week for high body weight for four successive generations onthe growth traits including body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) and onthe expression level of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormonereceptor (GHR), adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), uncoupling protein (UCP)and Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit III (COX III) genes. Growth traits wereevaluated for the base, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations. Total RNA was extractedfrom the liver then cDNA was synthesized. Real-time polymerase chain reactionswere performed using the SYBR Green PCR Master Mix. The 4th generation of thisstudy recorded the highest and significant values for body weight at zero (hatching),2nd, 4th and 6th week of age (BW0 = 9.75, BW2 = 75.16, BW4 = 163.46 and BW6 =253.13 gm, respectively), and for average daily gain (ADG0-2 = 4.67, ADG2-4 =6.36 and ADG0-6 = 5.79 gm, respectively). Moreover, the 4th generation recordedthe highest and significant mRNA expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes in the liver(1.80 and 1.66 fold change, respectively). In contrast, the base generation showedthe highest and significant levels of hepatic mRNA expression of ANT, UCP, COXIII genes (1.08, 1.24 and 1.05 fold change, respectively). We may conclude thatthese genes are promising candidate biomarkers for improving growth traits, leadingto increased quail marketable meat
(15) (PDF) Selection for High Body Weight and Its Association with the Expression Profiles of Somatotropic Axis and Mitochondrial Genes in Japanese Quail. |
