Fiber-type distribution and expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms in newborn heterozygous myostatin-knockout pigs

• Published in: Biotechnology letters 2017-12, Vol.39 (12), p.1811-1819
• Main Authors: Xing, Xiao-Xu, Xuan, Mei-Fu, Jin, Long, Guo, Qing, Luo, Zhao-Bo, Wang, Jun-Xia, Luo, Qi-Rong, Zhang, Guang-Lei, Cui, Cheng-Du, Cui, Zheng-Yun, Kang, Jin-Dan, Yin, Xi-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Applied Microbiology; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Body weight; Chains; Embryo, Mammalian; Follistatin - metabolism; Gene Knockout Techniques; Glycolysis; Hypertrophy; Isoforms; Life Sciences; Male; Microbiology; mRNA; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles; Myosin; Myosin Heavy Chains - chemistry; Myosin Heavy Chains - genetics; Myosin Heavy Chains - metabolism; Myostatin; Myostatin - genetics; Nuclear Transfer Techniques; Organ Size; Original Research Paper; Protein Isoforms; RNA - analysis; RNA - genetics; RNA - metabolism; Succinate dehydrogenase; Swine
• ISSN: 0141-5492; 1573-6776
• DOI: 10.1007/s10529-017-2422-2

Objectives To explore the effects of heterozygous myostatin-knockout (MSNT +/− ) on muscle characteristics, specifically fiber-type distribution and expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms in pigs. Results The fiber cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles were much larger in MSTN +/− pigs at birth than in wild-type (WT) pigs. MSTN +/− pigs had a higher proportion of fast-type fibers and lower succinate dehydrogenase activity in muscles than WT pigs. The myosin heavy chain IIB mRNA level in both two muscles was ~ threefold higher in MSTN +/− pigs compared with WT pigs. Conclusion MSTN +/− pigs exhibit a disproportionate increase in muscle mass and can have a higher body weight due to fiber hypertrophy, a change in the fiber-type distribution, and alteration of myosin heavy chain isoforms levels, leading to more fast glycolytic fibers.