Effects of White Roman gosling quality on their growth parameters, intestinal villus morphology, blood biochemistry, and nonspecific pathological lesions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gosling quality on their growth parameters, intestinal villus morphology, blood biochemistry, and nonspecific pathological lesions from 0 to 4 weeks old. Seventy-two goslings were randomly distributed into 12 pens, with each pen containing three males and three females in a completely randomized design of two control variables, including healthy and weak goslings. Healthy goslings all shared the same characteristics, such as good features with no abnormalities and full absorption of yolk sac. Albeit lighter body weight (<85 g/bird) and incomplete absorption of the yolk sac were found in the weak geese, no obvious disease was exhibited in them. Post mortem examination revealed that the incidence of nonspecific pathological lesions of the 4 week-old healthy and weak gosling groups were 25.0 and 50.0%, respectively. Nonspecific pathological changes of 4 week-old goslings in the liver, ileum, lung, and heart were 16.7, 12.5, 8.3, and 4.2%, respectively. The healthy goslings also had higher total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein than weak goslings. Separately raising weak goslings from 0 to 4 weeks old could increase the survival rate and reduce economic losses of feeding.(AU)

Growth Patterns of Two Chinese Native Goose Breeds

To study the development rules of Chinese native geese, two breeds, Shitou and Sichuan White geese were analyzed from 0 to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were fitted with commonly used four kinds of nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Richards). The results showed that the growth curves were appropriately fitted with all four models but the Logistic and Richards both had the best fitting with growth curve (R2>0.99). Analyzing the fitting parameters of the Logistic and Richards, we found that male Shitou had the highest adult body weight while Sichuan White female had the lowest weight. In Shitou breed, Shape parameter Predicted with Richards model was corresponded with Gompertz curve, while in Sichuan breed it was in between Gompertz and Bertalanffy. Growth parameters predicted with Logistic model was much more closed to observed value as compared others. So overall logistic was the best model to analyze the growth curve in Chinese native goose and Shitou goose had excellent growth performance when compared to Sichuan White.(AU)

Gene Expression Patterns of Geese Expression Patterns of L-FABP, Spot 14, OB and APO A1 Genes in Different Tissues of Overfed and Control Geese

Ten-week-old Langde geese in similar body weight were randomly selected, four for overfeeding and four for routinly feeding. The abundance of liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), thyroid hormone-responsive (THRSP or Spot 14), obese (OB), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) genes in goose were detected by quantitative RT-PCR. L-FABP was higher expressed in liver and intestine than other tissues, but no expression was detected in the pancreas or brain. The other three genes were widely expressed in different tissues, OB was higher expressed in pancreas and abdominal fat, Spot 14 and Apo A1 was higher expressed in sebum and abdominal fat. Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes were up-regulated in overfed goose livers compared with that in the control. Thus, Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes may play important roles in lipid metabolism in goose fat liver.(AU)

Gene Expression Patterns of Geese Expression Patterns of L-FABP, Spot 14, OB and APO A1 Genes in Different Tissues of Overfed and Control Geese

Ten-week-old Langde geese in similar body weight were randomly selected, four for overfeeding and four for routinly feeding. The abundance of liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), thyroid hormone-responsive (THRSP or Spot 14), obese (OB), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) genes in goose were detected by quantitative RT-PCR. L-FABP was higher expressed in liver and intestine than other tissues, but no expression was detected in the pancreas or brain. The other three genes were widely expressed in different tissues, OB was higher expressed in pancreas and abdominal fat, Spot 14 and Apo A1 was higher expressed in sebum and abdominal fat. Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes were up-regulated in overfed goose livers compared with that in the control. Thus, Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes may play important roles in lipid metabolism in goose fat liver.

Growth Patterns of Two Chinese Native Goose Breeds

To study the development rules of Chinese native geese, two breeds, Shitou and Sichuan White geese were analyzed from 0 to 12 weeks of age. The growth curves were fitted with commonly used four kinds of nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Richards). The results showed that the growth curves were appropriately fitted with all four models but the Logistic and Richards both had the best fitting with growth curve (R2>0.99). Analyzing the fitting parameters of the Logistic and Richards, we found that male Shitou had the highest adult body weight while Sichuan White female had the lowest weight. In Shitou breed, Shape parameter Predicted with Richards model was corresponded with Gompertz curve, while in Sichuan breed it was in between Gompertz and Bertalanffy. Growth parameters predicted with Logistic model was much more closed to observed value as compared others. So overall logistic was the best model to analyze the growth curve in Chinese native goose and Shitou goose had excellent growth performance when compared to Sichuan White.

Insulin promotes the expression of the gluconeogenic rate-limiting enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pase) through PI3k/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in goose hepatocytes

To identify what makes insulin have an activating or inhibiting role in gluconeogenesis in goose hepatocytes and whether insulin regulates PEPCK and G6Pase through the PI3k/Akt/mTOR pathway or not, goose primary hepatocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. After 12h cultured in serum-free medium, hepatocytes were incubated for 24 h in the medium with no addition (control) or with the addition of 50, 100, and 150 nM of insulin, 1000 nM NVP-BEZ235, or co-addition of 150nM insulin and 1000nM NVP-BEZ235. Glucose concentration and PEPCK and G6Pase expression were determined. The results showed that PEPCK and G6Pase mRNA levels and activities were up regulated in the 50, 100, and 150nM insulin treatments, while glucose concentration was not significantly altered (p > 0.05). Compared with the activation role of 150nM insulin alone, the co-treatment with1000nM NVP-BEZ235 and 150nM insulin significantly down regulated PEPCK mRNA level and G6Pase protein activity (p < 0.05). However, there is a different result on mRNA level of G6Pase. In conclusion, G6Pase and PEPCK are up regulated by insulin through PI3k/Akt/mTOR pathway in goose hepatocytes. However, G6Pase mRNA and protein levels may be regulated by insulin through different signaling pathways.(AU)

Insulin promotes the expression of the gluconeogenic rate-limiting enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pase) through PI3k/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in goose hepatocytes

To identify what makes insulin have an activating or inhibiting role in gluconeogenesis in goose hepatocytes and whether insulin regulates PEPCK and G6Pase through the PI3k/Akt/mTOR pathway or not, goose primary hepatocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. After 12h cultured in serum-free medium, hepatocytes were incubated for 24 h in the medium with no addition (control) or with the addition of 50, 100, and 150 nM of insulin, 1000 nM NVP-BEZ235, or co-addition of 150nM insulin and 1000nM NVP-BEZ235. Glucose concentration and PEPCK and G6Pase expression were determined. The results showed that PEPCK and G6Pase mRNA levels and activities were up regulated in the 50, 100, and 150nM insulin treatments, while glucose concentration was not significantly altered (p > 0.05). Compared with the activation role of 150nM insulin alone, the co-treatment with1000nM NVP-BEZ235 and 150nM insulin significantly down regulated PEPCK mRNA level and G6Pase protein activity (p < 0.05). However, there is a different result on mRNA level of G6Pase. In conclusion, G6Pase and PEPCK are up regulated by insulin through PI3k/Akt/mTOR pathway in goose hepatocytes. However, G6Pase mRNA and protein levels may be regulated by insulin through different signaling pathways.

Myf5 gene polymorphisms and production performance traits in Songliao white geese.

To explore the relationship between Myf5 gene polymorphisms and production performance traits in Songliao white geese, we used the chicken Myf5 sequence to design primers and amplified part of the exon 1 sequence of the Songliao white goose Myf5 gene. Results of single-strand conformation polymorphism polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed polymorphisms of the amplified fragment, including three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB). Three varieties were dominated by allele A and were mainly expressed in AA genotypes. We also identified that the Myf5 gene has one single nucleotide change (A→G) on exon 1 at locus 1344, and another (G→C) at locus 1410. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between genotypes before slaughter in live weight, carcass weight, eviscerated weight, leg muscle weight, weight of the wings, and slaughter rate. There were no significant differences with respect to other growth and carcass traits evaluated.