Association of IFNA16 and TNFRSF19 Polymorphisms with Intramuscular Fat Content and Fatty Acid Composition in Pigs

Interferon-alpha-16 (IFNA16) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19 (TNFRSF19) are cytokines that may play a role in adipogenesis and fatness. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the porcine IFNA16 and TNFRSF19 genes were verified and their association with intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition were evaluated in commercial crossbred pigs. Two non-synonymous SNPs of the porcine IFNA16 c.413G > A and TNFRSF19 c.860G > C loci were detected in commercial crossbred pigs. The porcine IFNA16 c.413G >A polymorphism was significantly associated with stearic acid, total saturated FAs (SFAs), and the ratio of monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) to SFAs (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the porcine TNFRSF19 c.860G > C polymorphism was found to be significantly associated with IMF content and arachidic acid levels (p < 0.05). The results revealed that porcine IFNA16 and TNFRSF19 polymorphisms are related to IMF content and/or FA composition and affirmed the importance of these cytokine genes as potential candidate genes for lipid deposition and FA composition in the muscle tissue of pigs.

Comparison of meat quality from Naïma and DanBred hybrid sows mated with P-76 boars

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was the comparative analysis of selected attributes of nutritional and technological quality of pork from Naïma and DanBred gilts mated with P-76 boars. The research was carried on 50 pigs (25 in each group) reared under the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 115±5.0 kg. Both analyzed crossbreds populations were characterized by overall good nutritional and technological quality. However the loins from DanBred×P-76 compared with those from Naïma×P-76 had significantly greater glycogen and less lactate concentration in early post mortem period, higher pH at all measurement points (besides no statistical differences in pH measured 2 hours post mortem), lower thermal drip and drip loss measured 96 and 144 hours post mortem and lower lightness (except no differences measured 48 hours post mortem). Additionally loins from DanBred×P-76 contained more protein and less water. No statistical differences in IMF content between both analysed groups were noted (their average values were below 2%). Aforementioned may suggest that crossing both Naïma and DanBred hybrids with P-76 boars may not improve IMF content or increase marbling scores to the levels preferred for culinary purposes.

Chromatin Interaction Responds to Breast Muscle Development and Intramuscular Fat Deposition Between Chinese Indigenous Chicken and Fast-Growing Broiler

Skeletal muscle development and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, which positively contribute to meat production and quality, are regulated by precisely orchestrated processes. However, changes in three-dimensional chromatin structure and interaction, a newly emerged mediator of gene expression, during the skeletal muscle development and IMF deposition have remained unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the differences in muscle development and IMF content between one-day-old commercial Arbor Acres broiler (AA) and Chinese indigenous Lushi blue-shelled-egg chicken (LS) and performed Hi-C analysis on their breast muscles. Our results indicated that significantly higher IMF content, however remarkably lower muscle fiber diameter was detected in breast muscle of LS chicken compared to that of AA broiler. The chromatin intra-interaction was prior to inter-interaction in both AA and LS chicken, and chromatin inter-interaction was heavily focused on the small and gene-rich chromosomes. For genomic compartmentalization, no significant difference in the number of B type compartments was found, but AA had more A type compartments versus LS. The A/B compartment switching of AA versus LS showed more A to B switching than B to A switching. There were no significant differences in the average sizes and distributions of topologically associating domains (TAD). Additionally, approximately 50% of TAD boundaries were overlapping. The reforming and disappearing events of TAD boundaries were identified between AA and LS chicken breast muscles. Among these, the HMGCR gene was located in the TAD-boundary regions in AA broilers, but in TAD-interior regions in LS chickens, and the IGF2BP3 gene was located in the AA-unique TAD boundaries. Both HMGCR and IGF2BP3 genes exhibited increased mRNA expression in one-day-old AA broiler breast muscles. It was demonstrated that the IGF2BP3 and HMGCR genes regulated by TAD boundary sliding were potential biomarkers for chicken breast muscle development and IMF deposition. Our data not only provide a valuable understanding of higher-order chromatin dynamics during muscle development and lipid accumulation but also reveal new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of muscle development and IMF deposition in chicken.

A Selected Population Study Reveals the Biochemical Mechanism of Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Chicken Meat

Background Increasing intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important strategy to improve meat quality, but the regulation mechanism of IMF deposition needs to be systematically clarified. Results A total of 520 chickens from a selected line with improved IMF content and a control line were used to investigate the biochemical mechanism of IMF deposition in chickens. The results showed that the increased IMF would improve the flavor and tenderness quality of chicken meat. IMF content was mainly determined both by measuring triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PLIP) in muscle tissue, but only TG content was found to be decisive for IMF deposition. Furthermore, the increase in major fatty acid (FA) components in IMF is mainly derived from TGs (including C16:0, C16:1, C18:1n9c, and C18:2n6c, etc.), and the inhibition of certain very-long-chain FAs would help to IMF/TG deposition. Conclusions Our study elucidated the underlying biochemical mechanism of IMF deposition in chicken: Prevalent accumulation of long-chain FAs and inhibitions of medium-chain FAs and very long chain-FA would synergistically result in the increase of TGs with the FA biosynthesis and cellular uptake ways. Our findings will guide the production of high-quality chicken meat.

Trait correlated expression combined with eQTL and ASE analyses identified novel candidate genes affecting intramuscular fat

Background Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is a determining factor for meat taste. The Luchuan pig is a fat-type local breed in southern China that is famous for its desirable meat quality due to high IMF, however, the crossbred offspring of Luchuan sows and Duroc boars displayed within-population variation on meat quality, and the reason remains unknown. Results In the present study, we identified 212 IMF-correlated genes (FDR ≤ 0.01) using correlation analysis between gene expression level and the value of IMF content. The IMF-correlated genes were significantly enriched in the processes of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial energy metabolism, as well as the AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway. From the IMF-correlated genes, we identified 99 genes associated with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) or allele-specific expression (ASE) signals, including 21 genes identified by both cis-eQTL and ASE analyses and 12 genes identified by trans-eQTL analysis. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of IMF identified a significant QTL on SSC14 (p-value = 2.51E−7), and the nearest IMF-correlated gene SFXN4 (r = 0.28, FDR = 4.00E−4) was proposed as the candidate gene. Furthermore, we highlighted another three novel IMF candidate genes, namely AGT, EMG1, and PCTP, by integrated analysis of GWAS, eQTL, and IMF-gene correlation analysis. Conclusions The AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway together with the processes of lipid and mitochondrial energy metabolism plays a vital role in regulating porcine IMF content. Trait correlated expression combined with eQTL and ASE analysis highlighted a priority list of genes, which compensated for the shortcoming of GWAS, thereby accelerating the mining of causal genes of IMF.

Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation on the Meat Quality of Pigs: A Meta-Analysis

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation has been widely discussed as a strategy for improving meat quality in pig production, but the effects are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was performed to comprehensively evaluate its effects on the meat quality and growth performance of pigs. We searched the PubMed and the Web of Science databases (articles published from January 1, 2000 to October 16, 2020) and compared PUFAs-supplemented diets with control diets. We identified 1,670 studies, of which 14 (with data for 752 pigs) were included in our meta-analysis. The subgroup analysis was classified as PUFA source [conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or linseed], concentration (high or low concentration), and initial stage (growing or finishing pigs). Our analysis found that PUFA supplementation increased the intramuscular fat (IMF) content (WMD = 0.467%, 95% CI: 0.312–0.621, p &lt; 0.001), decreased the meat color L* (WMD = −0.636, 95% CI: −1.225 to −0.047, p = 0.034), and pH 24 h (WMD = −0.021, 95% CI: −0.032 to −0.009, p &lt; 0.001) but had no influence on drip loss, meat color a* and b*, pH 45 min, and growth performance. CLA supplementation improved IMF content (WMD = 0.542%, 95% CI: 0.343–0.741, p &lt; 0.001) and reduced meat color b* (WMD = −0.194, 95% CI: −0.344 to −0.044, p = 0.011). Linseed supplementation increased IMF content (WMD = 0.307%, 95% CI: 0.047–0.566, p = 0.021), decreased meat color L* (WMD = −1.740, 95% CI: −3.267 to −0.213, p = 0.026), and pH 24 h (WMD = 0.034, 95% CI: −0.049 to −0.018, p &lt; 0.001). We discovered an increase on the IMF content in both high and low concentration PUFA supplementation (WMD = 0.461%, 95% CI: −0.344 to −0.044, p &lt; 0.001; WMD = 0.456%, 95% CI: 0.276–0.635, p &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, we also found the effects of PUFA supplementation on meat color L* and pH 24 h are concentration- and stage-dependent. PUFA supplementation can improve the meat quality of pigs, which mainly emerges in greatly increasing IMF content.

Characteristics of pig carcasses of two genetic breeds / Características de carcaças suínas de duas linhagens genéticas

The production of good quality carcasses is the main goal of modern commercial and industrial pig farming.The genetic potential of commercial breeds has changed considerably, especially in terms of deposition rates of lean meat and lard thickness. By morphology and analysis of the small intestine one can evaluate the utilization of nutrients for the deposition of fat and meat in swine carcasses.This study aimed to evaluate the quality of carcasses from two commercial genetic breeds, using quantitative traits, and to investigate if there is difference in length and absorptive surface of the intestine, verifying if these data are correlated with the yield of lean meat on the carcass. 60 animals from each breed were slaughtered and evaluations made for the characteristics: hot carcass weight (HCW), carcass length (CL), lard thickness (LT), percentage of lean meat (LM%), intramuscular fat (IMF) and intestinal length (IL). For the analysis of intestinal absorption (IA) were used only 62 of the animals previously studied, being 31 animals of each genotype.The average values of CL and IMF presented differences between breeds. The meat of the swines studied presented a low IMF content, existing correlation between the LM% and LT. The breeds had statistically equal IC, AI and LM%. There was also correlation between LM% and LT.

Transcriptomics Analysis of Daheng Broilers Reveals that PLIN2 Regulates Chicken Preadipocyte Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis

Intramuscular fat content, an important meat quality trait, strongly affects flavor, juiciness, and tenderness. Sex hormones regulate lipid metabolism, and female hormones stimulate fat deposition, thereby making the female chickens always fatter than males. In this study, the effect of sex on IMF deposition was screened following transcriptomics in chickens. Results confirmed significantly higher IMF content of 150-day female chickens as compared to the male chickens. The female chickens manifested higher serum TG, LDL-C, and VLDL, and significantly lower HDL-C contents than male chickens. Moreover, differential expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism were obtained in the muscle and liver between female and male chicken, which could partly interpret the possible reasons for the sex-mediated differences of IMF content. Cellular results revealed that inhibition of PLIN2 significantly inhibited chicken preadipocyte proliferation and induces apoptosis of preadipocytes, as well as promoted adipocyte differentiation.

Effects of longissimus muscle fatty acid composition in mongolian sheep breeds

This survey to comparative investigates on fat and fatty acid composition in muscles depends on season effects of pastoral and grain fed Mongolian breeds sheep (Mongolian grassland pastoral Mongolian sheep, Inner Mongolian grassland pastoral and grain fed Ujumqin sheep) muscle’s longissimus dorsi. Two breeds three kinds Mongolian sheep muscle’s longissimus dorsi IMF content and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography after methyl esterification. The result reveals that: (1) The IMF content in pastoral of mongolian and Ujumqin sheep muscles was between winter and summer seasons observed extreme differences (p<0.01), but no extreme differences (p>0.01) in grain fed Ujumqin sheep. (2) The result showed that there were 29 identified fatty acids in the muscle’s longissimus dorsi means of winter season pastoral Mongolian, Ujumqin and grain fed Ujumqin sheep, where in the content of palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid were 71.45%, 73.17%, 72.02% of the total content of fatty acids respectively. Also saturated fatty acids accounted for 44.49%, 46.27%, 45.37%; monounsaturated fatty acids accounted for 35.68%, 36.09%, 35.9; polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 8.18%, 8.33%, 9.32% respectively. In the summer muscle’s longissimus dorsi means of Mongolian, Ujumqin and grain fed Ujumqin sheep were 31, 31, 26 identified fatty acids, where in the content of palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid were 75.96%, 77.17%, 72.79% of the total content of fatty acids respectively. Also saturated fatty acid accounted for 48.35%, 48.09%, 46.31; monounsaturated fatty acids accounted for 36.46%, 37.66%, 36.54; polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 7.07%, 7.43%, 8.05% respectively. Therefore, positive feature of pastoral Mongolian and Ujumqin sheep in muscle’s longissimus dorsi means that levels of the nutritionally important long chain PUFA EPA C20:5, DHA C22:6 was in winter 1.2-1.8%; in summer of the total content of fatty acids 1-1.2% respectively. But grain fed Ujumqin sheep muscle’s different parts means only identified long chain PUFA EPA C20:5 was in winter and summer 0.8% of the total content of fatty acids and lower than pastoral Mongolian and Ujumqin sheep 1%. Монгол хонины нурууны булчин махны тосны хүчлийн бүрдлийн судалгаа Энэхүү судалгаагаар өвөл болон зуны улирлын 2 үүлдэрийн 3 төрлийн Монгол хонины (Бэлчээрийн Монгол, Үзэмчин болон суурин маллагаатай Үзэмчин) нурууны булчин маханд (M. longissimus dorsi) тос болон тосны хүчлийн бүрдлийг харьцуулан судалсан болно. Дээрх 3 төрлийн хонины нурууны булчин эдийн тосыг ялган хэмжээг тогтоож, метил эфиржүүлсний дараа хийн хромотаграфаар тосны хүчлийн бүрэлдэхүүнийн тодорхойлсон. Булчин эдийн тосны агууламжийн үр дүн: Бэлчээрийн Монгол болон Үзэмчин хонины гуяны булчин эдийн тосны агууламж нь өвөл болон зуны улирлын хооронд хэт их утга (p<0.01) илэрсэн. Тосны хүчлийн бүрэлдэхүүний үр дүн: Өвлийн улирлын бэлчээрийн Монгол, Үзэмчин болон суурин маллагаатай Үзэмчин хонины longissimus dorsi булчин эдэд нийт тосны 89.35%, 91.19%, 90.6% -ийг 29 төрлийн тосны хүчил бүрдүүлж түүнээс пальмитины (C16:0), стеарины (C18:0), олеины хүчлүүд (C18:1) хүчлүүд 71.45%, 73.17%, 72.02%-ийг эзэлж байв. Зуны улиралд хонины нурууны булчин эдийн нийт тосны 91.88%, 93.18%, 90.9% -ийг 26-31 төрлийн тосны хүчил бүрдүүлж түүнээс пальмитины (C16:0), стеарины (C18:0), олеины хүчлүүд (C18:1) хүчлүүд 75.96%, 77.17%, 72.79%-ийг тус тус бүрдүүлж байна. Өвлийн улирлын бэлчээрийн Монгол, Үзэмчин болон суурин маллагаатай Үзэмчин хонины нурууны булчин эдийн дундаж ханасан тосны хүчил 44.49%, 46.27%, 45.37%’; мониен хүчил 35.68%, 36.09%, 35.9%; полиен хүчил 8.18%, 8.33%, 9.32%; Зуны улиралд ханасан хүчил 48.35%, 48.09%, 46.31%; мониен хүчил 36.46%, 37.66%, 36.54%; полиен хүчил 7.07%, 7.43%, 8.05% тус тус агуулагдаж байв. Эмчилгээний өндөр ач холбогдолтой гэгдээд байгаа EPA C20:5 болон DHA C22:6 олон холбоот тосны хүчлүүд бэлчээрийн Монгол болон Үзэмчин хонинд эдгээр хүчлийн нийлбэр өвлийн улирал 1.2-1.8%, зуны улиралд 1-1.2% агуулагдаж суурин маллагаатай Үзэмчин хонины нурууны булчин махнаас 1% орчим өндөр агуулагдаж байгаа бэлчээрийн хонины махны ач холбогдлыг илэрхийлэх үндэслэлтэй. Түлхүүр үг: Монгол хонь, Үзэмчин хонь, тосны хүчил, өвөл, зун

Effects of early high nutrition related to metabolic imprinting events on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle)

The study was conducted to clarify how early high plane of nutrition related to metabolic imprinting affected growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle). Wagyu steers were allocated randomly into two dietary groups: 1) steers fed milk replacer (crude protein 26.0%, crude fat 25.5%; maximum intake 0.6 kg/d) until 3 mo of age and then fed roughage (orchard grass hay) ad libitum from 4 to 10 mo of age (roughage group, RG; n = 11); 2) steers fed milk replacer (maximum intake of 1.8 kg per day) until 3 mo of age and then fed a high-concentrate diet from 4 to 10 mo of age (early high nutrition, EHN; n = 12). After 11 mo of age, all steers were fed roughage ad libitum until 31 mo of age and then slaughtered. Growth performance, carcass traits, longissimus muscle (LM) meat quality and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, plasma Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentration, and bone mineral density were measured. Body weight was greater in EHN steers (571 kg) than RG steers (520 kg; P &lt; 0.01). Plasma IGF-I levels were higher in EHN steers than in RG steers at 3, 10, and 14 mo of age (P &lt; 0.01, P &lt; 0.005, P &lt; 0.001, respectively); however, plasma IGF-I levels were lower in EHN steers compared to RG steers at 30 mo of age (P &lt; 0.01). The total weight of the muscles and bones of the left half of the carcass were not different between the two groups (P = 0.065). Five of the 19 muscles investigated (semimembranosus, P = 0.036; infraspinatus, P = 0.024; supraspinatus, P = 0.0019; serratus ventralis cervicis, P = 0.032; serratus ventralis thoracis, P = 0.027) were heavier in EHN steers. Total fat weight in the left half of the carcass was 30% greater (P = 0.025) in HNE carcasses. Subcutaneous and perirenal fat weights were 53% and 84% greater (P = 0.008, P = 0.002, respectively) in EHN carcasses. The LM IMF content was greater in EHN loins (13.2%) compared to RG loins (9.4%) at 31 mo of age (P = 0.038); however, no differences were found for shear force, tenderness, and cook loss. These results suggested early high-nutrition affected the growth and meat quality of livestock.