Gene Expression of Heart and Adipocyte Fatty Acid-binding Protein in Chickens by FQ-RT-PCR

This study was to detect the expression of heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) gene mRNA in different tissues of Rugao and Luyuan chickens at 56 d and 120 d by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR).The primers were designed according to the sequences of H-FABP, A-FABP and GAPDH genes in Gallus gallus, which were used as target genes and internal reference gene, respectively.The levels of H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression were detected by SYBR Green I FQ-RT-PCR.The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was calculated with 2 -∆Ct .Melting curve analysis showed a single peak of three genes.Intramuscular fat (IMF) content in breast muscle and leg muscle of the two chicken breeds at 120 d was higher than at 56 d.IMF content in breast muscle and leg muscle at 56 d and 120 d in Luyuan was significantly higher than in Rugao, however, abdominal fat of Luyuan was significantly lower than that of Rugao.The relative H-FABP gene mRNA expression level in cardiac muscle was the highest in both chicken breeds.The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression of different tissues in Luyuan was higher than in Rugao.H-FABP gene mRNA expression had a negative effect on IMF of leg and breast muscles, and was significantly negatively correlated with IMF content.The relative A-FABP gene mRNA level in abdominal fat was higher than in liver.The A-FABP gene mRNA was not expressed in leg, breast and cardiac muscles.A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was significantly positively correlated with abdominal fat and had a significant effect on abdominal fat but not IMF content.(