ABSTRACT
Calpastatin (CAST) is a specific inhibitor of the ubiquitous calcium-dependent proteases -µ-calpain and m-calpain. This proteolytic system plays a key role in the tenderization process that occurs during postmortem storage of meat under refrigerated conditions. In the present study using comparative sequencing seven novel polymorphisms located within P3 promoter region for exon 1u of the bovine CAST gene: -357 (C/G), -556 (G/T), -557 (A/G), -580 (G/C), -750 (T/C), and two InDel at position -890 (A/-) and (GTT/-) at position -353/-351 were found. This region directs the expression of type III calpastatin mRNA, encoding the prototypical calpastatin. The genotype frequencies and haplotypes distribution were studied in 191 bulls belonging to six cattle breeds. All genotypes were distributed according to the HWE test and two major combined haplotypes were identified. The frequency of the haplotype1 varied from 0.45 in Aberdeen Angus to 0.82 in Simmental.
ABSTRACT
Forty-five Duroc (recognized as not susceptible to stress) and 34 Pietrain (susceptible to stress) pigs were subjected to immobilization stress in a prone position for 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and cortisol (C) were determined in response to restraint stress. The concentrations of E, NE and DA were different between the two strains of pigs (some significant interactions); the highest response was seen after 5 min of stress. The concentration of plasma C increased with duration of stress and there was a significant interaction between strain of animals and the time of stress. Our data substantiate the use of E, NE, DA and C as indicators of stress in swine as early as 5 min after exposure to the stressor. It is also shown that stress-susceptible Pietrain pigs had higher plasma concentrations of E, NE and DA than Duroc pigs.
