| Abstract: | In present study, the developmental patterns of somatostatin (SS) gene expression in gastrictissue were compared between Erhualian and Large White pigs. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied todetermine the levels of SS mRNA. The results indicated that : (1) The gastric SS mRNA expression was high atbirth, followed by a significant decrease (P＜0.05) at 3 days of age in both breeds of pigs; (2) From 3 to 30days of age, the expression of SS mRNA in gastric tissue exhibited remarkable up-regulation in both breeds,after which a strain difference in the developmental pattern was observed. In Erhualian pigs, SS mRNA ex-pression reached a peak at 90 days of age, declined thereafter towards 180 days of age. In Large White pigs,however, the expression of SS mRNA remained constant from 30 days of age onwards; (3) In general, Erhual-ian pigs expressed higher levels of SS mRNA in gastric tissue compared with Large White pigs at the same age.The strain difference was significant from birth to 90 days of age, but vanished at 120 and 180 days of age.The results suggest that the gastric expression of SS in the pig is regulated following an instinct timetable in astrain-specific manner, its relationship with the development of gastric function as well as its interactions withenvironmental factors are to be elucidated. |
