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Effect of recombinant growth hormone on expression of growth hormone receptor, insulin-like growth factor mRNA and serum level of leptin in growing pigs

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Abstract

Sixteen Large White × Landrace castrated male pigs were allotted into treatment and control group. The treatment group was injected intramuscularly with recombinant porcine growth hormone (rpGH, 4 mg d−1) and the control group with vehicle for 28 days. Animals were slaughtered 4 h after final injection for liver, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and blood sampling. Serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and leptin were determined by RIA. The total RNA was extracted from tissues to measure the abundance of growth hormone receptor (GHR), IGF-I mRNA by RT-PCR with 18S rRNA internal standard. Results showed that rpGH enhanced the average daily weight gain by 26.1% (P < 0.05), the serum IGF-I concentration by 70.94% (P < 0.01), decreased serum leptin by 34.8% (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of GHR and IGF-I mRNA in liver were increased by 24.45% (P < 0.05) and 45.30% (P < 0.01), respectively, but no difference of GHR (P > 0.05) and IGF-I mRNA (P > 0.05) in LD between GH treated and control group was found. These results suggest that rpGH can up-regulate hepatic GHR and IGF-I gene expression and improve animal growth. However the effect of rpGH on GHR and IGF-I gene expression are tissue-specific.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Animal Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China

    Qingfu Xu, Zhihui Zhao, Yingdong Ni, Ruqian Zhao & Jie Chen

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  1. Qingfu Xu
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  2. Zhihui Zhao
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  3. Yingdong Ni
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  4. Ruqian Zhao
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  5. Jie Chen
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Correspondence to Ruqian Zhao.

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Xu, Q., Zhao, Z., Ni, Y. et al. Effect of recombinant growth hormone on expression of growth hormone receptor, insulin-like growth factor mRNA and serum level of leptin in growing pigs. Sci. China Ser. C.-Life Sci. 46, 205–211 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1360/03yc9022

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/03yc9022

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