Effect of dietary nutrition on tail fat deposition and evaluation of tail-related genes in fat-tailed sheep

BACKGROUND: The effects of dietary nutrition on tail fat deposition and the correlation between production performance and the Hh signaling pathway and OXCT1 were investigated in fat-tailed sheep. Tan sheep were fed different nutritional diets and the variances in tail length, width, thickness and tail weight as well as the mRNA expression of fat-related genes (C/EBPα, FAS, LPL, and HSL) were determined in the tail fat of sheep at three different growth stages based on their body weight. Furthermore, the correlations between tail phenotypes and the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway components (IHH, PTCH1, SMO, and GLI1) and OXCT1 were investigated. RESULTS: C/EBPα, FAS, LPL, and HSL were expressed with differences in tail fat of sheep fed different nutritional diets at three different growth stages. The results of the two-way ANOVA showed the significant effect of nutrition, stage, and interaction on gene expression, except the between C/EBPα and growth stage. C/EBPα, FAS, and LPL were considerably correlated with the tail phenotypes. Furthermore, the results of the correlation analysis demonstrated a close relationship between the tail phenotypes and Hh signaling pathway and OXCT1. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the gene-level role of dietary nutrition in promoting tail fat deposition and related tail fat-related genes. It provides a molecular basis by which nutritional balance and tail fat formation can be investigated and additional genes can be identified. The findings of the present study may help improve the production efficiency of fat-tailed sheep and identify crucial genes associated with tail fat deposition.

Comparison of non-linear models to describe growth of Iranian Guilan sheep / Comparación de modelos no lineales para describir el crecimiento de ovejas iraní Guilan / Comparação de modelos não lineares para descrever o crescimento de ovinos iraniano Guilan

Summary Background: non-linear mathematical models, empirically developed by plotting body weight against age, are used to describe the growth curve in different animals. Objective: to describe the growth pattern in Guilan sheep using non-linear models. Methods: six non-linear mathematical equations (Brody, Negative exponential, Logistic, Gompertz, von Bertalanffy and Richards) were used to describe the growth curves in Guilan sheep. The Agricultural Organization of Guilan province (Rasht, Iran) provided the dataset used in this study. The dataset included 42,257 weight records of lambs from birth to 240 days of age during years 1994 to 2014. Each model was separately fitted to body weight records of all lambs, males and females, using the NLIN and MODEL procedures of SAS. The models were tested for goodness of fit using adjusted coefficient of determination, root means square error (RMSE), Durbin-Watson statistic, akaike's information criterion (AIC) and bayesian information criterion (BIC). Results: the Richards model provided the best fit to the growth curve in females and all lambs, with the lowest RMSE, AIC, and BIC values compared to the other models. The Brody model provided the best fit of growth in male lambs due to the lower values of AIC and BIC compared to the other models. The negative exponential model provided the worst fit of growth for males, females and all lambs. Conclusion: the evaluation of the growth equations used in this study indicates the potential of non-linear functions for fitting body weight records of Guilan sheep.

Resumen Antecedentes: los modelos matemáticos no lineales desarrollados empíricamente mediante la comparación del peso corporal contra la edad se han usado para describir la curva de crecimiento en diferentes animales. Objetivo: describir el patrón de crecimiento en ovejas Guilan usando modelos no lineales. Métodos: seis ecuaciones matemáticas no lineales (Brody, Exponencial negativo, Logístico, Gompertz, von Bertalanffy y Richards) se utilizaron para describir las curvas de crecimiento en ovejas Guilan. El conjunto de datos utilizados en este estudio se obtuvo de la Organización para la Agricultura de la provincia Guilan (Rasht, Irán), y comprendió 42,257 registros de peso de corderos, recogidos desde el nacimiento hasta los 240 días de edad durante los años 1994 a 2014. Cada modelo fue ajustado por separado a los registros de peso corporal de todos los corderos, machos y hembras, utilizando los procedimientos NLIN y MODEL de SAS. Los modelos fueron probados para la bondad del ajuste mediante el coeficiente de determinación ajustado, la raíz cuadrada del error cuadrático medio (RMSE), el estadístico de Durbin-Watson, el criterio de información de akaike (AIC) y el criterio de información bayesiano (BIC). Resultados: el modelo de Richards proporcionó el mejor ajuste de la curva de crecimiento en las hembras y todos los corderos debido a los valores más bajos de RMSE, AIC y BIC con respecto a los otros modelos. El modelo Brody proporcionó el mejor ajuste de la curva de crecimiento de los corderos machos debido a los valores más bajos de AIC y BIC con respecto a los otros modelos. El modelo Exponencial negativo porporcionó el peor ajuste de la curva de crecimiento para machos, hembras y todos los corderos. Conclusión: la evaluación de diferentes ecuaciones de crecimiento utilizadas en este estudio indica el potencial de las funciones no lineales para el ajuste de los registros de peso corporal en ovejas de raza Guilan.

Resumo Antecedentes: os modelos matemáticos não lineares desenvolvidos empiricamente através da representação gráfica do peso corporal com a idade têm sido adequados para descrever a curva de crescimento em diferentes animais. Objetivo: o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o padrão de crescimento em ovinos Guilan usando modelos não lineares. Métodos: seis equações matemáticas não lineares (Brody, Negativo exponencial, Logístico, Gompertz, von Bertalanffy e Richards) foram utilizadas para descrever as curvas de crescimento em ovelhas Guilan. O conjunto de dados utilizado neste estudo foi obtido a partir da Organização Agrícola da província de Guilan (Rasht, Irã) e composta 42.257 registros de peso de cordeiros que foram recolhidos desde o nascimento até 240 dias de idade, durante 1994 a 2014. Cada modelo foi ajustado separadamente para os registros de peso corporal de todos os cordeiros, machos e fêmeas, utilizando os procedimentos NLIN e modelo em SAS. Os modelos foram testados para a qualidade do ajuste por meio do coeficiente de determinação ajustado, a raiz quadrada de erro quadrático médio (RMSE), o estatístico Durbin-Watson estatística, o critério de informação de Akaike (AIC) e critério de informação Bayesiano (BIC). Resultados: o modelo de Richards providencia o melhor ajuste da curva de crescimento nas fêmeas e todos os cordeiros, devido aos menores valores de RMSE, AIC e BIC do que outros modelos. O modelo Brody da o melhor ajuste da curva de crescimento em cordeiros devido aos menores valores de AIC e BIC do que outros modelos. O modelo exponencial negativo oferece o pior ajuste de curva de crescimento para machos, fêmeas e todos os cordeiros. Conclusão: avaliação diferentes equações de crescimento utilizados neste estudo indicaram o potencial das funções não lineares para a montagem de registos de peso corporal de Guilan.

PPARgamma FAS, HSL mRNA and protein expression during Tan sheep fat-tail development

Background The objective of this study was to investigate proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA and protein expression in fat tails of Tan sheep. Rams from different developmental stages (aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months) were selected, and their tail measurements including length (L), width (W) and girth (G) were recorded. The mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ, FAS and HSL were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Results The tail measurements increased with age. We observed no significant differences (P > 0.05) of PPARγ mRNA expression between ages 9 and 15 months, and between 12 and 15 months; FAS mRNA expression levels at each developmental stage were observed significantly in Tan sheep (P < 0.05); HSL mRNA expression with no significant differences were only observed between 6 and 15 months (P > 0.05). Significant differences (P < 0.05) of PPARγ, FAS and HSL protein expressions at each developmental stage were observed in Tan sheep. Conclusion We observed that the mRNA expression patterns of PPARγ and FAS decreased first before they increased again and then this process repeated. Conversely, the mRNA expression patterns of HSL increased first before they decreased and then this process repeated. The protein expression patterns of PPARγ and FAS decreased first before they increased again and then this process repeated. Conversely, the protein expression pattern of HSL increased first before it decreased again and then increased again.