Abstract: This study investigated the H-FABP mRNA expression levels in Hainan Black goats. Males from 1-4 months of age beyond adult animals were selected. Three animals of each age were slaughtered to collect samples from heart skeletal muscle (Longissimus dorsi muscle, psoas major muscle, biceps femoris muscle) adipose tissue liver and kidney. The total RNA was obtained to investigate the H-FABP mRNA expression levels by real-time PCR. The results showed that the H-FABP mRNA expression levels in heart and skeletal muscle have the same basic trends at different growth periods. The highest H-FABP mRNA expression in heart and skeletal muscle appeared at 2 months of age and it was extreme higher than those at other ages (p<0.01). The lowest H-FABP mRNA expression level in these tissues were at 1 month old. H-FABP mRNA expression level in adipose tissue was different from those in heart and skeletal muscle. The highest H-FABP mRNA expression in adipose tissue appeared at adult age and its expression was extreme higher than those in younger ages (p<0.01). In addition, the H-FABP mRNA expression pattern in liver was different from the other tissues. The expression in the liver at 1 month of age was significantly higher than those at 2-4 months of age. However, the highest level occurred at adult age. The differences in H-FABP mRNA expression level at 3 and 4 months old were not significant in liver, heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. On the other hand, H-FABP mRNA expression level in heart was the highest and significantly higher than other tissues at all ages. But, H-FABP mRNA expression level in liver was extreme higher than those in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue at 1 month old age (p<0.01). Besides, H-FABP mRNA expression in adipose tissue appears to increase as the age increase.
S. Guan, H.L. Zhou, G.Y. Hou, D.J. Wang, T.S. Xu, D.F. Wang, L.G. Shi, G. Rong and M. Li, 2012. Developmental Changes of the H-FABP mRNA Expression in Hainan Black Goat. Agricultural Journal, 7: 370-373.