mRNA expression of mitochondrial genes and productive performance of quails fed with glycerol

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of diets containing glycerol on the productive performance of Japanese meat quails and on the mRNA expression of the mitochondrial genes of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and uncoupling protein (UCP), involved in energy metabolism and oxidative stress response. The quail were fed diets containing 0,   8,  and 12% glycerol in partial substitution of corn. At 28 days of age, total RNA was extracted from samples of breast muscle and cDNA synthesis was done with qRT‑PCR using specific primers for ANT and UCP genes, obtained from Gallus gallus. Feed conversion and feed intake were evaluated for the three tested diets. The addition of 8% glycerol did not affect performance. However, the addition of 12% glycerol increased feed intake and worsen feed conversion. Animal weight gain was not affected by glycerol inclusion in the diet. In the group fed with 8% glycerol, UCP expression increased, but that of ANT did not vary in comparison to the control. The expression of UCP was lower and that of ANT was higher in the group fed with 12% glycerol. The inclusion of 8% glycerol in the diet does not affect the performance of meat quails, although it increases the expression of UCP. The inclusion of 12% glycerol decreases performance and increases the expression of ANT.