Authors : Zhang Li-Fan, Liu Chong, Bao Hai-Gang, Zhao Chun-Jiang, Lian Lin-Sheng, Xu Ning-Ying and Wu Chang-Xin
Abstract: Myoglobin (Mb) is a classical member of the globin family and plays an important role in the oxygen transportation or storage. As a unique native chicken breed in high altitude, Tibet chicken has the good adaptation to hypoxia. Here we present the first detailed analysis of Mb expression on hypoxic adaptability in chicken heart. In the present study, fertile eggs of Tibet chicken, Shouguang chicken and Silky chicken were exposed to sustained hypoxia (13% O2) and normoxia (21% O2). Chicken embryo hearts were collected on days 16 and 20 of incubation to examine the effect of hypoxia on Mb. The results showed that there is no significant difference in content or expression levels of Mb among the three chicken breeds in the normoxic environment. Tibet chicken embryos had the heaviest heart weight among these chicken breeds and the Mb content of all chicken breeds had increased in hypoxia comparing with that in normoxia. Under the hypoxic environment, Mb mRNA levels of Tibet chicken were lower than that of Shouguang and Silky chicken, indicating that the hypoxic degree between Tibet chicken and other lowland chicken was different. The smaller changes of Mb content and expression levels in hypoxia in Tibet chicken embryo suggests Tibet chicken had the better hypoxic adaptation ability in utilizing oxygen in heart tissue. The results showed that Mb is up-regulated by hypoxia and may play an important role in mediating heart hypoxic adaptation.
Zhang Li-Fan, Liu Chong, Bao Hai-Gang, Zhao Chun-Jiang, Lian Lin-Sheng, Xu Ning-Ying and Wu Chang-Xin, 2010. Hypoxic Adaptation and Myoglobin Expression in Heart Tissue of Tibet Chicken Embryo. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 529-534.