China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (7): 3234-3241.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.07.024

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differential Expression Analysis of FABP4 Gene in Mammary Gland of Small-tailed Han Sheep Before and After Pregnancy

CAI Wenjing1,2, CI Qiuyang1,2, TANG Lin1,2, LIU Hang1,2, SUN Xinming1,2, CHEN Yang1,2, JIANG Huaizhi1,2   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
    2. Key Laboratory of Evaluation and Utilization of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources (Sheep), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Changchun), Changchun 130118, China
  • Received:2024-11-04 Online:2025-07-05 Published:2025-07-01

Abstract: 【Objective】 Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) is an important functional protein that plays a key role in regulating lipid metabolism.Especially,FABP4 is considered the main carrier protein responsible for fatty acid transport in mammalian cells,playing a crucial regulatory role in the synthesis and decomposition of lipids in the body.Therefore,exploring the expression patterns of FABP4 gene in sheep mammary glands will be significant in revealing the importance of this gene in regulating milk fat formation,providing a theoretical basis for subsequent research on sheep lactation. 【Method】 The mammary gland and nipple tissues of Small-tailed Han sheep during the empty period and at 120 days of gestation were selected as research subjects,and the structure of the mammary gland and nipple tissues before and after pregnancy were observed using the hematoxylin-eosin staining method (HE).The distribution of FABP4 protein in mammary gland and nipple tissues before and after pregnancy was observed using immunohistochemistry,and the expression of FABP4 gene and protein in mammary gland and nipple tissues before and after pregnancy were detected using Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting,respectively. 【Result】 FABP4 gene was positively expressed in mammary gland and nipple tissues of Small-tailed Han sheep during the empty period and pregnancy.The expression of FABP4 gene in mammary gland and nipple of Small-tailed Han sheep during the empty period was significantly or extremely significantly higher than that during the pregnancy (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The expression of FABP4 gene in nipple during the empty period was extremely significantly higher than that in mammary gland (P<0.01).The expression of FABP4 protein in mammary gland and nipple of Small-tailed Han sheep during the empty period was extremely significantly higher than that during the pregnancy (P<0.01).The expression of FABP4 protein in nipple during the empty period and pregnancy was significantly higher than that in mammary gland (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The expression of FABP4 gene in mammary gland and nipple tissues of Small-tailed Han sheep during pregnancy was significantly reduced,indicating that this gene played an important role in breast development and was involved in the periodic development of breast.

Key words: FABP4 gene; fatty acid; Small-tailed Han sheep; pregnancy; mammary gland

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