Low birth weight is associated with enlarged muscle fiber area and impaired meat tenderness of the longissimus muscle in pigs1,2

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gondret ◽  
L. Lefaucheur ◽  
H. Juin ◽  
I. Louveau ◽  
B. Lebret
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Longissimus Muscle ◽  
Meat Tenderness ◽  
Fiber Area

Myostatin expression in porcine tissues: tissue specificity and developmental and postnatal regulation

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (4) ◽  
pp. R1265-R1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoquan Ji ◽  
R. L. Losinski ◽  
S. G. Cornelius ◽  
G. R. Frank ◽  
G. M. Willis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Muscle Growth ◽  
Mrna Abundance ◽  
Longissimus Muscle ◽  
Gland Development ◽  
Level 2

The objective of this study was to establish the developmental pattern and tissue specificity of porcine myostatin expression and to evaluate expression in skeletal muscle during circumstances in which muscle growth was altered. Northern blot analysis revealed two transcripts (1.5 and 0.8 kb). Myostatin mRNA was detected in whole fetuses at 21 and 35 days and was markedly increased ( P < 0.05) by 49 days. At birth, mRNA abundance in longissimus muscle had declined significantly ( P < 0.05) from that at day 105 of gestation and continued to decrease ( P < 0.05) to its lowest level 2 wk postnatally (4 kg body wt). Myostatin expression was higher ( P < 0.05) at 55, 107, and 162 kg body wt than at 4 kg body wt. Postnatally, myostatin mRNA was detected in skeletal muscle and mammary gland. Expression at birth was 65% higher ( P < 0.04) in longissimus muscle of low-birth-weight piglets (0.57 ± 0.052 kg body wt) vs. normal (1.37 ± 0.077 kg body wt) littermates, irrespective of gender. However, suppression of longissimus muscle growth by food deprivation (3 days) did not alter ( P > 0.15) myostatin expression in either 4- or 7-wk-old piglets. Additionally, myostatin mRNA abundance was not changed by porcine growth hormone administration in growing animals. These data indicate that myostatin expression in skeletal muscle peaks prenatally and that greater expression is associated with low birth weight. Expression in mammary gland indicates a possible role for myostatin in mammary gland development and/or lactation.

Effect of sex and exogenous porcine somatotropin on longissimus muscle fiber characteristics of growing pigs.

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1176-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Solomon ◽  
R. G. Campbell ◽  
N. C. Steele
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Fiber Type ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Fiber Types ◽  
Longissimus Muscle ◽  
Meat Tenderness ◽  
Giant Fiber ◽  
Porcine Somatotropin ◽  
Dose Levels

Abstract Thirty-seven pigs with an initial live weight of 60 kg were used to investigate the effects of daily exogenous porcine somatotropin (pST) administration at two dose levels (0 and 100 µg·kg−1·d−1) for a 31-d period on muscle fiber characteristics and meat tenderness of boars, gilts and barrows. Excipient boars and gilts had more αW and fewer αR fibers than did those receiving pST. The percentage of muscle fiber type for barrows was not affected by pST treatment. The administration of pST resulted in an increase in muscle fiber size for all three fiber types in all three sexes, but these changes were of greater magnitude in barrows (31.8%) and gilts (27.8%) than in boars (9.3%). Somatotropin negated the intrinsic sex effect differences in fiber area of the pigs. There was no difference in tenderness among excipient boars, barrows and gilts; however, with the inclusion of pST, shear force decreased in boars and gilts and increased in barrows. A high proportion of the pST-treated pigs contained giant fibers in the longissimus muscle. Furthermore, a small proportion of the pST-treated pigs exhibited pale, soft, exudative muscle. Whether the giant fiber anomalies occurred through increased muscle activity or from fibers undergoing degenerative changes was not determined.

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