Study on the Expression Profile of Pax7 Gene and its Developmental Expression in Longissimus Dorsi of Pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of Pax7 (paired box 7) gene in different tissues and its developmental expression in longissimus dorsi of pigs.The expression profiles of Pax7 gene at the levels of mRNA and protein in 12 different tissues including heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,stomach,small intestine,hypothalamus,cerebellum,longissimus dorsi,biceeps femoris,psoas major of Mashen pigs at birth and the developmental expression patterns in longissimus dorsi at seven stages (1,30,60,90,120,150,and 180-day old) of Mashen and Large White pigs were studied by quantitative Real-time PCR and Western blotting.The results showed that the Pax7 mRNA was expressed in longissimus dorsi,biceeps femoris,psoas major,hypothalamus,and cerebellum,wherease the Pax7 protein was only expressed in skeletal muscles of longissimus dorsi,biceeps femoris,and psoas major.The developmental expression patterns of Pax7 mRNA and protein in Mashen pig was basically in accordance with those in Large White pig.The mRNA expression amount of Pax7 gene in longissimus dorsi was the greatest at 30-day old (P <0.01),followed by the expression at 1-day old,and kept lower stable levels at other stages both in Mashen and Large White pigs.At the stages of 30-day,90-day,and 180-day old,Pax7 mRNA expression amounts in Mashen pig were significantly higher than those in Large White pig (P <0.01).The Pax7 protein expression at 1-day old was the greatest (P <0.01),followed by it at 30-day old,which were significantly greater than those at other stages,at which Pax7 expression was in lower stable levels.The Pax7 protein expression from one-day old to 180-day old in Mashen pig was significantly greater than those in Large White pig (P <0.05;P <0.01).The expression of Pax7 gene could associated with tissue,age,and background of pig breed.