Z.-W. Cai, Y.-F. Sheng, L.-F. Zhang, Y. Wang, X.-L. Jiang, Z.-Z. Lv and N.-Y. Xu
Genet. Mol. Res. 10 (3): 1320-1330 (2011)
Published July 5, 2011
DOI 10.4238/vol10-3gmr1113

Cite this Article:

About the Authors:
Z.-W. Cai, Y.-F. Sheng, L.-F. Zhang, Y. Wang, X.-L. Jiang, Z.-Z. Lv and N.-Y. Xu
Corresponding author: N.-Y. Xu
E-mail: nyxu@zju.edu.cn

About the Authors:

Z.-W. Cai, Y.-F. Sheng, L.-F. Zhang, Y. Wang, X.-L. Jiang, Z.-Z. Lv and N.-Y. Xu
Corresponding author: N.-Y. Xu
E-mail: nyxu@zju.edu.cn

ABSTRACT
Thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. There are at least two TR isoforms, TRα and TRβ. The TRα isoform plays a critical role in mediating the action of thyroid hormone in adipose tissue. We mapped the porcine TRα gene to chromosome 12 p11-p13, by using the ImpRH panel. We examined tissue-localization of TRα and determined expression patterns of TRα in porcine adipose tissue with quantitative real-time PCR. TRα was expressed in all tissues, including heart, liver, spleen, stomach, pancreas, brain, small intestine, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipose tissue. In the adipose tissue, the expression of TRα decreased postnatally. Compared to Yorkshire pigs, Jinhua pigs had significantly lower expression levels of TRa gene in the subcutaneous fat tissue. The expression levels of β2-AR, HSL and ATGL were also significantly lower in Jinhua pigs than in Yorkshire pigs. However, no significant differences in PPARg and SREBP-1C expression levels were found between Jinhua and Yorkshire pigs. Incubation of porcine adipose tissue explants with high doses of isoproterenol (100 and 1000 nM) significantly increased the expression levels of TRa. We conclude that there is considerable evidence that TRa plays an important role in fat deposition in porcine adipose tissue.

Key words: Thyroid hormone; TRa; Adipose tissue; Fat deposition.