We investigated effects of Rendement Napole (RN) genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed diets with different levels of dietary fat. Thirty-two pigs, belonging to either the wild-type (WT, rn+ /rn+ ) or carrier (CAR, RN- /rn+ ) genotypes (n = 16/genotype), were divided into two dietary groups, (high fat [HF] or low fat [LF]) diets, for 12 weeks (n = 8 pigs/genotype/diet) after which pigs were killed for gene expression analysis by RT-PCR. Feeding HF diet caused increased daily gain (ADG, p < .05) and final body weight (BW) (p < .05) in comparison with the LF diet (p < .05). Feed efficiency (gain:feed) was higher (p < .05) in pigs on the HF and was higher (p < .05) in CAR pigs compared to WT. There was genotype × diet interaction (p = .05) on final BW such that CAR animals on LF diet had the same final BW as animals of both genotypes on HF diet. Carrier pigs on LF diet had higher (p < .05) average daily gain and gain:feed than WT pigs. There was a trend (p < .08) for a higher feed consumption in pigs on the LF diet. Backfat thickness was higher (p < .01) in pigs on the HF diet. Serum triglyceride was higher (0.62 vs. 0.33 mg/dl, p < .01) in pigs on HF diet. Serum insulin was higher (p < .05) in CAR versus WT pigs (0.40 vs. 0.015 μg/ml). Pigs on the HF diet had a higher (p < .05) serum insulin compared to those on the LF diet (0.032 vs. 0.023 μg/ml). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1-alpha was higher (p < .05) in the longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles of pigs on HF diet. Acyl-CoA oxidase I was elevated (p < .05) in the liver of pigs on HF diet. Fatty acid synthase was lower in the longissimus dorsi muscle, liver and mesenteric fat (p < .05) of carrier pigs. The RN gene regulates specific metabolic markers in the Ossabaw pigs.
Keywords: Ossabaw pigs; Rendement Napole; growth performance; metabolism.
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