Abstract
Research on diet effects on buffalo meat quality may be critical to assess its possible consumption benefits in human nutrition. This study investigated, in growing buffalo bulls, the effects of two diets differing in total fat content and fatty acid profile on the activity and gene expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD) in the adipose tissue and on meat quality. Twenty buffalo bulls, 6 months old, were randomly assigned to the two dietary treatments until slaughtering (about 400 kg body weight). No significant difference between the groups was observed for chemical composition, fatty acid profile and CLAs content of Longissimus thoracis as well as for the SCD gene expression. Such results seem to be in contrast with similar studies performed on other ruminant species, but confirm that important differences occur between buffalo and bovine species, such as the lower content in fat of buffalo meat. Our results also confirm that specific studies should be performed on buffalo, also in terms of the metabolic pathways activated by different diets.
Highlights
Compared to the other domesticated ruminants, the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) shows specific traits for digestive physiology [1,2,3] and milk quality [4,5,6]
Particular attention has been focused on conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) due to their anti-carcinogenic activity, their positive effects on diabetic patients and on the proper function of the immune and cardiovascular systems [8,9]
CLAs have two origins [10]: (1) through the bio-hydrogenation of some unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen, and (2) through the endogenous synthesis starting from trans-vaccenic acid by a ∆9-desaturase, the Stearoyl CoA Desaturase (SCD)
Summary
Compared to the other domesticated ruminants, the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) shows specific traits for digestive physiology [1,2,3] and milk quality [4,5,6]. CLAs have two origins [10]: (1) through the bio-hydrogenation of some unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen, and (2) through the endogenous synthesis starting from trans-vaccenic acid (trans C18:1, TVA-intermediate product of linoleic and α-linolenic bio-hydrogenation) by a ∆9-desaturase, the Stearoyl CoA Desaturase (SCD). The SCD gene encodes a protein of 359 amino acid residues, located in the endoplasmic reticulum, that catalyzes the ∆-9 desaturation, introducing a cis double bound, of a spectrum of fatty acyl-CoA substrates, mainly from myristic (C14) to nonadecylic (C19) acid between carbon 9 and 10. The aim of present trial was to study the effect of different total fat and PUFA content in the diet on the activity and expression of the SCD gene in the adipose tissue of buffalo bulls
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