BIODEGRADED MANGO PEEL BASED DIETS ALTERS LIPOGENIC GENES AND mRNA EXPRESSION IN GROWING RABBITS.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of bio fermented mango peel meal (FMPM) on lipid metabolism – related gene expression in liver tissues and abdominal adipose tissue in weaned rabbits. Twenty (20) weaned New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to four dietary groups with five (5) rabbits in each group in a completely randomized design experiment. The diets had a control(G1) supplemented with unfermented mango seed meal, an experiment diet of mango peel fermented by either of P. ostreatus, (G2) and P. rivulosis (G3) and combinations of P. ostreatus plus P. rivulosis 50:50 (G4).The results showed that FMPM supplementation down regulated the mRNA expression of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in liver tissues and the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in abdominal fat tissues (P< 0.05). The mRNA expression of perixisomeproliferators activated receptor - alpha (PPAR-α) compared to control group, was up regulated in the livers of rabbits on fermented diets (P<0.05). However gene expressions of PPAR-γ and L-FABP liver fatty acid binding protein were not altered (P> 0.05) in rabbits fed FMPM supplemented diets. These findings indicated that FMPM regulated lipid metabolism by either increasing or decreasing the expression of lipogenic genes and altering multiple pathways in the liver. This information provided new essential information and demonstrated great potential inherent in nutrigenomics in researching nutrients added to livestock diets.