Polymorphisms of RDH16 and VEGFR1 influence M. trapezius steatosis in Japanese Black carcass

The exact cause of steatosis, one of defects in Japanese beef carcasses, has not been elucidated to date, because it is very difficult to diagnose cyclopedically with certain reproducibility due to the bias in the outbreak. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of polymorphisms in retinol dehydrogenase 16 (RDH16), myoferlin (MYOF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) on carcass‐graded Musculus trapezius steatosis. For logistic regression analysis, 646 carcasses shipped from 29 farms in Miyazaki, Japan, were used. The GG genotype in RDH16 showed significant odds ratios against AA and AG. In VEGFR1, CT had a significant odds ratio against CC. After evaluating for interaction, highly significant odds ratios were observed in the combinations that included the GG risk genotype in RDH16. It is noteworthy that there was no steatosis in the combination GG (RDH16) and CC (VEGFR1). It may be concluded that there is a possibility that steatosis can be suppressed by the CC genotype in VEGFR1. The current study revealed the influence of genetic polymorphisms on M. trapezius steatosis that had not been reported until now, and may help elucidate the cause of steatosis.