Skeletal muscle tissue transcriptome differences in lean and obese female beagle dogs

Area of Science:

• Comparative genomics
• Canine physiology
• Metabolic research

Background:

• Skeletal muscle is crucial for metabolic homeostasis and energy expenditure.
• The role of skeletal muscle in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction is not fully understood.
• Limited research exists on skeletal muscle gene expression differences between lean and obese dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify differentially expressed genes and functional classes in the skeletal muscle of obese versus lean female beagle dogs.
• To investigate the impact of obesity on skeletal muscle gene expression using microarray technology.

Main Methods:

• Microarray analysis was employed to compare gene expression profiles.
• Skeletal muscle tissue from obese and lean adult female beagle dogs was analyzed.
• Differentially expressed transcripts were identified and functionally categorized.

Main Results:

• Seventy-seven transcripts showed altered expression in obese dogs compared to lean dogs.
• Affected functional classes included signaling, transport, protein catabolism, cell differentiation, and apoptosis.
• Key altered pathways involved oxidative stress, endocannabinoid metabolism, insulin signaling, and carnitine transport.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is associated with significant alterations in skeletal muscle gene expression in dogs.
• Differentially expressed genes highlight potential roles in oxidative stress, altered cell differentiation, and specific metabolic pathways.
• The findings suggest that skeletal muscle may play a role in obesity-induced metabolic derangements, potentially involving post-transcriptional modifications or compensatory mechanisms by other tissues.