Effects of the sex-linked dwarf gene (dw) on skeletal muscle cellularity in broiler chickens.
1. The number and size of muscle fibres and the DNA concentration in m. pectoralis superficialis of normal (Dw+/-) and dwarf (dw/-) White Plymouth Rock females were investigated at the ages of 9 and 52 weeks. 2. Live weight and total meat was reduced by 37.4 and 42.8% in dw/- as compared with Dw+/- females at the age of 9 weeks. The suppressive effect of the dwarf allele on the weight of m. pectoralis superficialis was 40.6% (67.8 v. 40.3 g in Dw+/- and dw/- genotypes). This reduction in weight was accompanied by a similar decrease of DNA content (28.8 v. 17.1 mg, i.e. 40.6%), a decrease in number of muscle fibres (829 x 10(3) v. 654 x 10(3), i.e. 21.2%) and fibre diameter (30.80 v. 28.95 microns, i.e. 6.0%). In mature hens, the differences between genotypes Dw+/- and dw/- were slightly smaller. 3. The different relationships between the muscle growth traits studied are discussed.
Knízetová
H
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Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague, Czech Republic.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D004247:DNA