Postnatal expression pattern of the C/EBP alpha gene in porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue

Abstract

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) has been implicated as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. The pattern of C/EBPα gene expression in different growth stages and its relation to adipose deposition was studied. Fifteen female Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs in five groups of three pigs each, weighing 1, 30, 50, 70 and 90 kg were used to study developmental gene expression of C/EBPα in subcutaneous adipose tissue by means of semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the C/EBPα mRNA levels in porcine adipose tissue continuously increased as the pigs grew and deposited fat from 1 to 90 kg body weight (BW) (P<0.05). The presented data show a close positive correlation between the levels of C/EBPα gene expression and the fat deposition rate in pigs. The experiment showed that total adipose weight increased significantly with BW (P<0.05).