The Differential Expressions of PPARγ and CAST mRNA in Muscle Tissues of Jinhua and Landrace Pigs

Background: Fat deposition affected meat quality and the suitable amount of intramuscular fat (IMF) can significantly improve the taste of meat, palatability, juicy, tenderness and flavor, thereby enhancing the meat quality in animals. Although, calpastatin (CAST) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a (PPARa) could regulate meat quality by altering meat tenderness or IMF content in animals, reports concerning the relationship between CAST, PPARa expression and pork quality is unclear. Methods: A total of twenty 28-day-old purebred weaned Jinhua and Landrace piglets (10 piglets per breed) were divided into two groups according to breed for the feeding trials lasting for 120 days. At the 148 days of age, 3 pigs of each breed were selected to slaughter. Total RNA was extracted from longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris muscle to investigate the differential expression of PPARa and CAST in muscle tissues of different breed pigs by RT-PCR methods, as well as their relationship with IMF and carcass lean content. Result: These results suggested that PPARa is an important effector for regulating fat deposition in pigs, which was correlated with IMF and carcass lean content of pigs. This data would provide a scientific basis for the regulation of pork quality.