DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION AND CYCLE THRESHOLD OF MYOSTATIN IN NIGERIAN LOCALLY ADAPTED AND EXOTIC TURKEYS

Abstract

Myostatin (MSTN) gene plays a key role in the regulation of myogenesis. This study focused on the relative and differential expression of MSTN gene in Nigerian locally adapted and exotic turkeys. A total of two hundred turkeys comprising one hundred and fifty Nigerian locally adapted (fifty each of black, lavender and white colour variants) and fifty Hybrid converter (exotic) day-old poults were used for this study. The total RNA in liver, breast and thigh muscle tissues was extracted at six weeks  (grower stage) and sixteen weeks (finisher stage) of age. The cycle threshold (CT), delta CT and relative expression (R) values of MSTN gene in Nigerian locally adapted and exotic turkeys were analyzed by real-time PCR and calculated using 2-△△Ct. The highest (p<0.05) ΔCT (12.82) and R (1.38) were respectively found in the breast and liver tissues of local black turkey at 6 weeks while the highest (p<0.05) ΔCT (10.60) and R (1.24) of MSTN gene were obtained from the breast and liver tissues of exotic turkey at 16 weeks. Generally, there was reduction in relative expression at finisher phase in the breast and thigh tissues of exotic and Nigerian locally adapted (black and lavender plumage variants) turkeys. This expression pattern provided useful information on the genetic basis for growth variation in exotic and Nigerian locally adapted turkeys and could be employed for genetic improvement of Nigeria locally adapted turkeys in a short period of time.