Correlation Analysis on Expression of IGFs and MSTN Genes and Growth Traits in Breeding Pigs

PurposeThe objective of this study was to detect and analyze the relative expression of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) gene (IGF-1 and IGF-2) and myostatin (MSTN) gene in York boars, Duroc boars and Landrace boars, in order to explore a simple and efficient molecular breeding method for breeding pigs.

MethodThe relative expression of target gene was detected by qPCR, the SPSS software was used to analyze the expression data and the correlation between the target gene and the growth traits of pigs.

ResultIGF-1 gene and MSTN gene expression were significantly higher than that of IGF-2 gene in the ear tissue of York boars (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between IGF-1 gene expression and IGF-2 gene expression in the ear tissue of Duroc boars (P<0.05). Significant differences were found among the expression of the three target genes in the ear tissue of Landrace boars. The relative expression of IGF-1 gene and MSTN gene in the ear tissue of Landrace boars was significantly higher than that of York boars (P<0.05). The expression of IGF-1 gene was significantly correlated with growth traits (feed utilization, total consumption, daily feed intake and growth index) in Landrace boars (P<0.05). The expression of MSTN gene in the ear tissue was significantly correlated with the growth characters of York boars (body length, chest circumference, chest depth, daily gain, total feed consumption, daily feed intake and growth index), Duroc boars (body length, half leg hip circumference) and Landrace boars (growth index) (P<0.05). Combined analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the expression of target genes in different pig ear tissues and growth traits (P<0.05).

ConclusionThese results revealed that the target genes might have a synergistic effect on the formation of growth traits in pigs, which provides a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of pigs.