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Gelsolin expression in sheep milk somatic cells during lactation.
F Napolitano1, F Grandoni1, F Signorelli1
1Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) - CREA-ZA, Centro di ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura (Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture), Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|March 7, 2019
Summary
Gelsolin gene expression is higher in Sarda sheep than Gentile sheep, correlating with milk fat content. This finding highlights gelsolin
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics and Genomics
- Dairy Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Milk quality and yield are crucial for livestock economics and health.
- Gelsolin, an actin-modulating protein, is hypothesized to play a role in mammary gland changes during lactation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gelsolin gene expression levels in two distinct dairy sheep breeds (Sarda and Gentile).
- To correlate gelsolin expression with milk yield, quality traits, and lactation stage.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure gelsolin gene expression in milk somatic cells.
- Milk samples were collected from 26 ewes across three lactation stages.
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess differential gene expression and correlations.
Main Results:
- Gelsolin gene expression was significantly higher in Sarda sheep compared to Gentile sheep throughout lactation.
- Higher gelsolin expression in Sarda sheep aligns with their longer lactation duration and greater milk yield.
- A significant negative correlation was observed between gelsolin gene expression and milk fat content in Sarda sheep.
Conclusions:
- Gelsolin gene expression differs between Sarda and Gentile dairy sheep breeds.
- Gelsolin plays a role in mammary physiology, influencing milk production traits.
- Gelsolin gene expression is linked to milk fat content in sheep.
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