Expression and hypoxia adaptation analysis of the EPO gene in different tissues of plateau Tibetan pigs

Abstract

This study aimed to observe the expression characteristics of the erythropoietin (EPO) gene in different tissues of Tibetan pigs and to explore the adaptation to hypoxic environments. The cDNA in heart, liver, lung, kidney, muscle, brain, and fat of Tibetan pigs was used as the template. Through the number of cycles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), annealing temperature, and system optimization, a stable and specific semi-quantitative PCR system was established. The EPO gene in different tissues of Tibetan pigs was detected using this system. The results showed that the EPO gene was expressed in heart, liver, lung, kidney, muscle, brain, and fat of the pigs. There were obvious differences in the expression in each tissue, and the expression sequence was as follows: kidney > muscle > lung > brain > liver > heart > fat. The results showed that the EPO gene was expressed in various tissues of Tibetan pigs. There were obvious differences in expression and each tissue may play a different regulatory role in the adaptation to hypoxia.