Transcript profiling of candidate genes in testis of pigs exhibiting large differences in androstenone levels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Boar taint is an unpleasant odor and flavor of the meat and occurs in a high proportion of uncastrated male pigs. Androstenone, a steroid produced in testis and acting as a sex pheromone regulating reproductive function in female pigs, is one of the main compounds responsible for boar taint. The primary goal of the present investigation was to determine the differential gene expression of selected candidate genes related to levels of androstenone in pigs.

Results

Altogether 2560 boars from the Norwegian Landrace and Duroc populations were included in this study. Testicle samples from the 192 boars with most extreme high or low levels of androstenone in fat were used for RNA extraction, and 15 candidate genes were selected and analyzed by real-competitive PCR analy

SUBMITTER: Grindflek E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2823645 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature