Differences in urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its receptor (u-PAR) genes expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue between sheep and goats.

摘要

The genes of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its receptor (u-PAR) are part of the fibrinolytic system which plays an important role in white adipose tissue remodeling. The nucleotides sequences of these genes have not been characterized in goats, in contrast to other ruminants (sheep and cow) and were partly isolated in this study. Further to that, taking into account that gene expression is strongly affected by dietary and genetic factors, an experiment was conducted with lactating dairy ewes (n=12) and goats (n=12) with the objective to determine if there are differences between them in u-PA and u-PAR gene activity in their subcutaneous adipose tissue (SUBQ) under the same dietary treatments. Ewes and goats were given identical diets in a mid-lactation period and another adapted diet in the late lactation period identical between ewes and goats. This late lactation contained less roughage and were fed in a lower amount, and caused - unintendedly - a negative energy balance since animals lost weight in that period. The results showed that the mRNA expression of u-PAR reduced significantly in the SUBQ of both animal species with Treatment B compared with Treatment A. In addition, the u-PA and u-PAR mRNA expressions were significantly higher in the SUBQ of goats compared to those of sheep, independently from the fed diet and the different days in milk. In conclusion, may be feeding regimen affects the u-PAR mRNA expression while there are significant species differences between sheep and goats in the u-PA and u-PAR mRNA expression of their SUBQ under the same dietary treatments.