Comparison of performance, fatty acid composition, enzymes and gene expression between overfed Xupu geese with large and small liver

Abstract

The aim of our study was to compare overfeeding performance, fatty acid composition, enzymes activity and gene expression between overfed Xupu geese with large and small liver. A total of sixty 80 d male Xupu geese were overfed by the same feed intake under the same conditions. The liver weight exhibited normal distribution. Based on the weight of liver, samples were divided into large liver (LL) and small liver (SL) Xupu geese. After overfeeding for 28 d: compared with the SL-Xupu geese, liver weight and liver-to-body weight ratio increased (p < .05), while abdominal fat weight and feed-to-liver weight ratio decreased (p < .05); the level of palmitic acid and methyltetracosanoate acid decreased (p < .05), and the level of oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid increased (p < .05) in liver of LL-Xupu geese. Compared with the SL-Xupu geese, LL-Xupu geese had a higher plasma concentration of TG (triglyceride) (p < .05), and had a lower plasma concentration of VLDL-C (very low density lipoprotein cholesterol) (p < .05); and had a higher CHE (cholinesterase), LPS (lipase), LPL (lipoproteinlipase) activities (p < .05) in the liver. The mRNA expression of FABP4 (adipocyte fatty acid binding protein), SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase), FADS (fatty acid dehydrogenase), ELOVL1 (elongase of long-chain fatty acid 1), ACAT2 (acyl-Co A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2), and FASN (fatty acid synthase) (p < .05) were significantly upregulated in LL-Xupu geese than in SL-Xupu geese. The results showed that the level of unsaturated fatty acid in liver of LL-Xupu geese was higher than that of SL-Xupu geese, which may be closely related to enzymes and genes expression related to lipid metabolism. Highlights The content of unsaturated fatty acids in liver of LL-Xupu geese were significantly higher than in SL-Xupu geese. The mRNA expression of FABP4, SCD, FADS, ELOVL1, ACAT2, and FASN were significantly upregulated in LL-Xupu geese than in SL-Xupu geese. The level of unsaturated fatty acid in liver of LL-Xupu geese was higher than that of SL-Xupu geese, which may be closely related to enzymes and genes expression related to lipid metabolism.