Expression analysis of myostatin and its receptor during the growth of adipose and muscle tissues in Meishan pig

Abstract

Myostatin (MSTN), mainly expressed in muscle, inhibits the growth of skeletal muscle and regulates the formation of adipose tissue. This study examined the expression of MSTN, activin-receptor-type II B (ACVR2B), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) g and adipocyte specific fatty acid binding protein (aP2) in longissimus muscle, back fat and abdominal fat at the stages of 35-day, 2-month, 3-month, 4-month and 6–month Meishan pig respectively, using quantitative real-time PCR methods. Our results showed that the expressions of MSTN and its receptor (ACVR2B) were lower in adipose tissue (back fat and abdominal fat) than in muscle at all stages. Both MSTN and its receptor had different expression patterns in longissimus muscle, back fat and abdominal fat. MSTN had a weak correlation with aP2 and PPARg in longissimus muscle.The expression of MSTN had a positive correlation with aP2 and PPARg in back fat, however that of MSTN had a negative correlation with aP2 and PPARg in abdominal fat. Results indicated that those 3 tissues might respond differently at growing stages to MSTN signaling.