Saneyasu_2013_Comp.Biochem.Physiol.B.Biochem.Mol.Biol_165_114

The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of key genes involved in lipid metabolism in response to short term fasting in chicks (Gallus gallus). The mRNA level of the genes was analyzed after 0, 2, and 4h of fasting in the liver and white adipose tissue. In the liver, the mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha was significantly increased after 2h of fasting. The mRNA levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a and acyl-CoA oxidase were significantly increased after 4h of fasting. In contrast, the mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, and fatty acid synthase were significantly decreased after 4h of fasting. The mRNA levels of cholesterol metabolism-related genes such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase were significantly decreased after 4h of fasting. In the white adipose tissue, the mRNA level of adipose triglyceride lipase was significantly increased after 4h of fasting. In contrast, the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and lipoprotein lipase were significantly decreased after 4h of fasting. These results demonstrated that the gene expression of lipid metabolism-related genes is regulated by short term fasting in both the liver and WAT in chicks.