title: Differential miRNA expression profiles in the longissimus dorsi muscle between intact and castrated male pigs.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important modulators of skeletal muscle development in multiple mammalian species, but their role in skeletal muscle growth in castrated male pigs has not been well studied. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of miRNAs in longissimus dorsi muscle under castration. Our results showed that castration caused a significant decrease in serum testosterone levels as well as carcass lean mass, but led to an increase in carcass fat mass. Moreover, miRNA expression profiles in skeletal muscle were significantly altered by castration, and seven differentially expressed miRNAs were discovered. More importantly, functional analysis suggested that these differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets are involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle contractile function and fat metabolism. Taken together, these results demonstrate altered miRNA expression in skeletal muscle of castrated male pigs, and suggest a potential mechanism underlying the effects of castration on porcine skeletal muscle growth.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Zhaowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Lifan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: nyxu@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ningying
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Castration; Expression; MicroRNA; Pig; Skeletal muscle