COMPARATIVE EXPRESSION PATTERNS OF LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE AND ASSOCIATED LIPID REGULATING GENES IN DIFFERENT BREEDS OF CHICKENS IN SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANA OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Comparative Expression patterns of Lipoprotein Lipase and associated Lipids regulating genes in different breeds of Chickens in Southern Guinea Savana of Nigeria were investigated. A total of 300 day-old birds of mixed sexes were used in this study. One hundred each of the Fulani ecotype, Noiler and Broiler chicken birds were randomly allotted into three experimental treatments, with each treatment replicated into five containing twenty birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD) arrangement, with Fulani ecotype as treatment 1 (T1), Noilers as treatment 2 (T2) and Broiler as treatment 3 (T3 control). The birds were fed an experimental diet containing 21 % crude protein and 2900 Kcal ME/kg in a single-phase feeding regime for 22 weeks for T1 and T2 and 8 weeks for T3. Nine fresh liver samples were collected from each of the three treatments. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), Apolipoprotein AI (APOA1), Apolipoprotein B (APOB) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA) genes were extracted and expressed. Lipoprotein lipase was highly upward regulated in Fulani ecotype chickens with a cycle threshold value of 2.61, while there was a downward regulation of the gene in the Noilers and Broilers with cycle threshold values of -0.97 and - 1.64, respectively. Apolipoprotein lipase A-1 (APOA-1) was upwardly regulated in the Broilers with a cycle threshold value of 0.65. In contrast, this gene was downwardly regulated in the Fulani ecotype and the Noilers, with cycle threshold values of -0.39 and -0.25, respectively. Apolipoprotein B precursor (APOB) showed a highly upward regulation in the Fulani ecotype with a cycle threshold value of 2.19, while there was a downward regulation of the gene in a similar pattern in both the Noilers and Broilers with cycle threshold values -0.1.03 and -1.16, respectively. A slightly upward regulation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) was observed in the Fulani ecotype with a cycle threshold value of 0.23. At the same time, there was a slight downward regulation of the gene in the Noilers and a lesser downward regulation of the gene in the Arbor acre, with cycle threshold values of -0.002 and - 2.23, respectively. Understanding the dynamics of this genetic determinant in domestic chicken species in this study will facilitate the development of molecular markers for a prospective marker-assisted selection for improvement of growth and sensory attributes of Indigenous chicken breeds as lipid regulation is known to influence growth and meat sensory attributes.