Research Article

Expression profile of insulin-like growth factor system genes in muscle tissues during the postnatal development growth stage in ducks

Published: May 06, 2013
Genet. Mol. Res. 12 (4) : 4500-4514 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2013.May.6.3
Cite this Article:
C.L. Song, H.H. Liu, J. Kou, L. Lv, L. Li, W.X. Wang, J.W. Wang (2013). Expression profile of insulin-like growth factor system genes in muscle tissues during the postnatal development growth stage in ducks. Genet. Mol. Res. 12(4): 4500-4514. https://doi.org/10.4238/2013.May.6.3
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Abstract

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are regulators that modulate the proliferation and differentiation of muscle tissues. We quantified the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, and type I and II IGF receptors (IGF-IR and IGF-IIR) in muscle tissues including the breast, leg, and myocardium during an early postnatal development growth stage (post-hatching weeks 1-8) in ducks. The results showed a significant age-related change in mRNA in these muscle tissues. In breast muscle, the developmental expression of IGF-I and IGF-II was highest during week 1 but decreased quickly and maintained a relatively lower level. Leg muscle had the highest mRNA expression of IGF-I and IGF-II genes at week 3. In myocardial tissues, the expression level of IGF-IR and IGF-IIR genes exhibited a "rise-decline" developmental trend. The expression patterns of IGF-I/IGF-IR and IGF-II/IGF-IIR were different between weeks 4 and 6. The same expression pattern was observed for IGF-I and IGF-IR; however, it was different from that observed for IGF-II and IGF-IIR. Our results showed a negative correlation between IGF-II mRNA expression and leg muscle weight at week 4 (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was also found between IGF-II mRNA expression and breast muscle weight (P < 0.01), and a positive correlation was found between IGF-IR expression and breast muscle weight. At week 6, a positive correlation was found between IGF-IR expression and breast muscle weight. However, at week 8, a negative correlation was found between IGF-IR expression and breast muscle weight. The results showed that the expression of IGF mRNA in duck tissues exhibits a specific developmental trend and an age-related pattern, suggesting that the regulation mechanism of these 4 genes in proliferation and differentiation of muscle tissues differed.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are regulators that modulate the proliferation and differentiation of muscle tissues. We quantified the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, and type I and II IGF receptors (IGF-IR and IGF-IIR) in muscle tissues including the breast, leg, and myocardium during an early postnatal development growth stage (post-hatching weeks 1-8) in ducks. The results showed a significant age-related change in mRNA in these muscle tissues. In breast muscle, the developmental expression of IGF-I and IGF-II was highest during week 1 but decreased quickly and maintained a relatively lower level. Leg muscle had the highest mRNA expression of IGF-I and IGF-II genes at week 3. In myocardial tissues, the expression level of IGF-IR and IGF-IIR genes exhibited a "rise-decline" developmental trend. The expression patterns of IGF-I/IGF-IR and IGF-II/IGF-IIR were different between weeks 4 and 6. The same expression pattern was observed for IGF-I and IGF-IR; however, it was different from that observed for IGF-II and IGF-IIR. Our results showed a negative correlation between IGF-II mRNA expression and leg muscle weight at week 4 (P