Study of insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) gene expression in response to organic zinc-methionine and calcium salt of flaxseed oil supplementation in the liver and muscle tissue of fattening lambs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal science and Food Technology, Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal science and Food Technology, Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan

3 Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Industry

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional effect of organic zinc-methionine supplement and unsaturated fat supplement (calcium salt of flaxseed oil supplement) on IGF-2 gene expression in the liver and muscle tissue of fattening lambs. In this study, 44 male Arabian lambs were used in a 2x2 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four treatments and 11 replications. The four experimental diets were: 1) basal diet without calcium supplementation of flaxseed oil and zinc-methionine supplementation (control), 2) basal diet without calcium supplementation of flaxseed oil containing 0.083% zinc-methionine supplementation (equivalent to 100 mg zinc/kg dry matter, 3) basal diet containing 3% calcium supplementation of flaxseed oil without zinc-methionine supplementation, 4) basal diet containing 3% calcium supplementation of flaxseed oil plus 0.083% zinc-methionine supplementation. After the end of the fattening period, 3 animals from each treatment were slaughtered and the muscle and liver tissue were transferred to the laboratory with liquid nitrogen. IGF-2 gene expression was evaluated using Real-time PCR. The results of this study showed that the addition of zinc supplementation significantly increased IGF-2 gene expression in the liver (P < 0.01). The effect of calcium salt supplementation of flaxseed oil on IGF-2 gene expression in the liver and muscle was significant. Adding organic zinc-methionine supplement to diets containing calcium salt of flaxseed oil supplement increases IGF-2 gene expression. Increased IGF-2 gene expression in the liver and muscle is likely to lead to increased growth and ultimately livestock production.

Main Subjects