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| The Effects of Dietary Energy Levels on Ovarian and Uterine Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mRNA in Prepubertal Gilts |
| Bo LI He ZHANG Jin ZHANG Bo-xing SUN Lu CHEN Yan-ling SUN Xu ZHOU |
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Abstract Nine prepubertal gilts (JunMu No.1) were randomly allocated to three groups (n=3) and fed with a high level digestive energy (Group H), a low level digestive energy (Group L), and a control group digestive energy (Group M) diet, respectively, for 14d. Free access of water was provided throughout the whole research period. Ovaries and uteruses were collected, after 2 weeks energy treatment, and processed for determination of the absolute quantities of IGF-IR and EGFR mRNA by using real-time PCR. The ovaries and uteruses in the Group H expressed significantly greater amount of IGF-IR and EGFR mRNA than in the Group M and Group L (p＜0.05). But only the ovaries in the Group L expressed significantly less amount of IGF-IR and EGFR mRNA(p＜0.05) than in the Group M. The present study demonstrated that high energy intake markedly enhances the ovarian and uterine expression of IGF-IR and EGFR in prepubertal gilts, whereas, insufficient energy intake markedly inhibits such expressions. The result suggests that IGF-IR and EGFR might be involved in mediating the effects of energy intake on the development of reproductive system in prepubertal gilts.
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Received: 16 July 2007
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Corresponding Authors:
Xu ZHOU
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