Abstract
Carcass weight and backfat thickness are two of important elements in determining the carcass trait in pigs and are studied on animal genetics, nutrition, and endocrinology. Growth factors stimulate or inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of various cells. In particular, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are involved in the growth and maintenance of muscle. Also, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol are known to be related to the obesity and subcutaneous fat depth in pigs. Therefore, this study was performed to relate growth factors (IGFs, TGF-β1, and EGF) and hormones (cortisol and DHEA-S) concentrations at antemortem and postmortem periods to carcass traits including carcass weight and backfat thickness. Blood and m. Longissimus were collected in pigs at antemortem (30 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods. After slaughtered, carcass weight and backfat thickness were measured. Growth factors and hormones in serum and m. Longissimus were measured by radioimmunoassay or enzyme-linked imuunosorbent assay. Before antemortem period, serum IGF-I and -II concentrations were positively correlated with the carcass weight and backfat thickness in gilts, and the concentrations of TGF-β1 and cortisol in barrows show the correlation with only carcass weight. Also, the positive correlations of muscular IGFs and TGF-β1 at postmortem 45 min with the carcass weight and backfat thickness were detected. Consequently, these results suggest that the serum and muscular endocrine factors are involved in the carcass weight and backfat thickness in pigs.
Highlights
-II concentrations were positively correlated with the carcass weight and backfat thickness in gilts, and the concentrations of TGFβ1 and cortisol in barrows show the correlation with only carcass weight
The positive correlations of muscular Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 at postmortem 45 min with the carcass weight and backfat thickness were detected. These results suggest that the serum and muscular endocrine factors are involved in the carcass weight and backfat thickness in pigs
Backfat thickness, growth factors and hormones concentrations of barrows and gilts were measured in antemortem and postmortem periods
Summary
This study was performed to relate endocrine factors (growth factors and hormones) concentrations in serum and muscle to carcass traits including carcass weight and backfat thickness and to investigate the possibility of endocrine factors as indicator for the selection of carcass traits in pigs. Growth factors are multifunctional proteins that regulate cell division, differentiation, and function by auto/paracrine and endocrine manners. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) interact with IGF receptor and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and modulate proliferation and differentiation of several cell types (Jones and Clemmons, 1995). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is the disulfide-linked homodimer protein that influences wide range of biological processes, such as stimulation or inhibition of cellular replication and differentiation depending on cell types.
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