Comparing mRNA levels of genes encoding leptin, leptin receptor, and lipoprotein lipase between dairy and beef cattle

Body weight and fat mass vary distinctly between German Holstein (dairy cattle) and Charolais (beef cattle). The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of the obese (Ob) gene and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene in fat tissues and expression of the long isoform leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) gene in the hypothalamus were different between these two cattle breeds. Body weight and the area of longissimus muscle cross-section of German Holstein were lower (P < 0.001), while body fat content, as well as the omental and perirenal fat mass were higher (P < 0.001), compared to Charolais. Plasma insulin and leptin levels between two cattle breeds were determined by radioimmunoassay. Compared to Charolais, plasma insulin concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and plasma leptin levels were tended to be higher (P < 0.1) in German Holstein. Ob mRNA levels in subcutaneous and perirenal fat depots, but not in the omental fat depot, were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in German Holstein than in Charolais. LPL mRNA expression in the perirenal fat depot of German Holstein was greater in abundance than that of Charolais. No significantly different LPL mRNA levels were found in subcutaneous and omental fat depots, and Ob-Rb mRNA levels in the hypothalamus between these two cattle breeds (P < 0.05). Both Ob and LPL expression was greater in perirenal and omental fat depots than in the subcutaneous fat depot (P < 0.05). Data indicated that in bovine the Ob and LPL gene expression levels in perirenal fats are an important index that is associated with body fat content, while Ob-Rb in hypothalamus is not.