Differences in the expression of genes involved in the somatotropic axis in divergent strains of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows during early and mid lactation

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 92; no. 10; pp. 5229 - 5238
• Main Authors: McCarthy, S.D., Butler, S.T., Patton, J., Daly, M., Morris, D.G., Kenny, D.A., Waters, S.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2009; American Dairy Science Association; Am Dairy Sci Assoc; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle - genetics; dairy cows; early lactation; Female; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Holstein; Holstein-Friesian; insulin-like growth factor binding proteins; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - genetics; Lactation - physiology; lactation stage; liver; messenger RNA; mid lactation; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; Receptors, Somatotropin - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; somatotropic axis; Species Specificity; strains; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins - genetics; Terrestrial animal productions; tissue analysis; Vertebrates; somatotropic axis; liver; gene expression; Holstein-Friesian; Farming animal; Lactation; Liver; Dairy cattle; Gene expression; Strain; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Dairy industry; Early; Artiodactyla; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2008-1856

Differences in genetic selection criteria for dairy cows internationally have led to divergence in the Holstein-Friesian breed. The objective of this study was to compare hepatic expression of genes of the somatotropic axis in the North American Holstein-Friesian and the New Zealand Holstein-Friesian strains of dairy cow at early and mid lactation. Mature cows of both the North American Holstein-Friesian (n=10) and New Zealand Holstein-Friesian (n=10) strains were selected. Liver tissue was collected by percutaneous punch biopsy from all cows at 35 and 140 d postpartum, representing early and mid lactation, respectively. Total RNA was extracted and the hepatic expression of genes involved in the control of the somatotropic axis was examined. Abundance of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 mRNA was greater in the New Zealand strain, concomitant with a tendency for increased expression of acid-labile subunit mRNA. Across strains, mRNA abundance of IGF-binding protein-1, IGF-binding protein-2, and growth hormone receptor 1A decreased from d 35 to 140 postpartum, whereas expression of IGF-1 and acid-labile subunit tended to increase. Abundance of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 mRNA was increased at d 140 postpartum. Both the strain of Holstein-Friesian cow and the stage of lactation influenced expression of genes controlling the somatotropic axis in hepatic tissue.