Original research article
Expression of Ghrelin Gene in Chicken Using Semi-Quantitative Digital Analysis
2025, 90 (4) p. 357-365
Babatunde Moses Ilori, Omotomiwa Abiodun Osikomaiya, Babajide Samuel Obimakinde, Samuel Olutunde Durosaro, Mohammed Okanlawon Onagbesan, Ayotunde Olutumininu Adebambo
Abstract
The study investigated Ghrelin gene (GHRL) expression patterns in improved Nigerian indigenous Normal feather and naked neck FUNAAB Alpha chicken. Data on body weight and weight gain were collected weekly for 24 weeks. Beginning from 12 weeks of age, two males and two females were slaughtered per genotype via cervical dislocation fortnightly until the birds reached the point of lay at 24 weeks. Tissue samples from the liver, ovary, and testes were removed aseptically, weighed, and RNA stored for analysis of gene expression. T he total RNA of each tissue sample was extracted using the Quick RNATM MicroPrep kit. Reverse transcription was also carried out using SensiFASTTM cDNA Synthesis Kit. A semi quantitative analysis of reverse transcription was carried out by densitometric scanning. T he collected data were analyzed through two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear SAS model. Genotype and sex were observed to have significant effect on body weight. Normal feather chickens and male chickens had a higher body weight. Semi quantitative analysis of GHRL mRNA showed significant expression levels in the liver, ovary, and testes samples of both naked and normal feather chickens. Male and female naked neck chickens had significantly higher expression levels of the ghrelin gene at puberty. Normal feather chickens had significantly higher ghrelin mRNA expression levels throughout all weeks in the ovaries and testes. Our results suggest that chicken ghrelin expression may be related to tissue, age and chicken genotype.
Keywords
ghrelin gene, growth, expression, indigenous chicken, polymerase chain reaction-electrophoresis
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