Sheep genotype, age and muscle type affect the expression of metabolic enzyme markers
G. E. Gardner A B E , D. L. Hopkins A D , P. L. Greenwood A C , M. A. Cake A B , M. D. Boyce A B and D. W. Pethick A BA Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
B School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
C Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: g.gardner@murdoch.edu.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(10) 1180-1189 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07093
Submitted: 13 April 2007 Accepted: 11 July 2007 Published: 19 September 2007
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether genotype, age (4, 8, 14 and 22 months), sex (ewe and wether) and muscle type influence ovine (n = 587) muscle metabolic characteristics. The genotypes represented were Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino, Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino, Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino, Merino × Merino and Border Leicester × Merino. Between 4 and 22 months of age, myoglobin concentration within all muscles and all genotypes doubled, with the bulk of this response occurring between 4 and 8 months of age. Levels in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LT) and semimembranosus muscles were double those seen in the semitendinosus (ST) muscle, and Merinos had the lowest myoglobin concentrations of all genotypes. The other aerobic indicator, isocitrate dehydrogenase, had lower activity in the ST compared with the LT, was lower in 22-month-old sheep compared with all other ages, and decreased as selection for leanness increased. Both phosphofructokinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity tended to increase with age, were lower in the ST compared with the LT, and had higher activity in the Border Leicester × Merino sheep. The correlation between the percentage of total myofibre area comprising type 2X myofibres and metabolic markers was far higher for the oxidative indicators isocitrate dehydrogenase and myoglobin, which both decreased as relative area of type 2X fibres increased. However, the strongest correlations were with the relative area of type 2A myofibres, which were consistently high for both oxidative and glycolytic metabolic markers implying positive coregulation with both energy producing pathways.
Acknowledgements
The animals sampled for this paper were generated at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra, as part of the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre. The team at Cowra is thanked for their management of the flock and the efficient execution of the slaughter program. Specifically we wish to thank David Stanley (NSW DPI) who has managed the database arising from this large collaborative program and the team members from other research groups who assisted with data collection. Thanks are also extended to the technical staff at Murdoch University for processing the enzymatic laboratory samples. Lastly, the Australian Sheep Industry CRC and Meat and Livestock Australia are thanked for their financial support of this work.
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