Generation of heritable double muscle buttocks rabbits via myostatin mutation with CRISPR/Cas9 system
Abstract Background Myostatin (MSTN) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-β) superfamily and is considered to be a negative regulator that inhibits muscle development and regeneration, inactivity of MSTN gene may affect the development and regeneration of muscle in a few of animals. Results In the present study, the muscle mass negative regulator gene myostatin (MSTN) was knocked out at two novel sits in exon3, and the function of these mutation was determined in the offspring rabbits. The typical double muscle phenotype with hyperplasia and hypertrophy of muscle fiber was observed in the MSTN KO rabbits, and similar phenotype was confirmed in the F1 generation rabbits. The body weight of MSTN-KO+/− rabbits 3708 ± 43.06 g were significant heavier at 180 days than that of control WT rabbit 3224 ± 48.64 g (P < 0.001). Fourteen litters of F1 generation rabbits were produced, and the mutation of MSTN could be stably inherited in the MSTN KO rabbits. Conclusions Heritable double muscle buttocks rabbits via myostatin mutation with CRISPR/Cas9 system were generated, which will be valuable in meat rabbits breeding and a useful animal model for the study of human muscle development related diseases.