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Expression of plasminogen activator‐related genes in the adipose tissue of lactating dairy sheep in the early post‐weaning period
Author(s) -
Theodorou G.,
Lampidonis A. D.,
Laliotis G. P.,
Bizelis I.,
Politis I.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01154.x
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , plasminogen activator , endocrinology , medicine , weaning , biology , lipolysis , plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 , white adipose tissue , gene expression , lactation , breed , lipoprotein lipase , tissue plasminogen activator , andrology , gene , zoology , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics
Summary There is growing evidence that plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI‐1) is expressed in adipose tissue and its expression is implicated in inflammation that accompanies obesity‐associated diseases. The physiological role of other genes implicated in the plasminogen‐activating cascade such as urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (u‐PA), u‐PA receptor (u‐PAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI‐2) in ovine adipose tissue remains unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in the expression of four plasminogen activator (PA)‐related genes during the early post‐weaning period in dairy ewes. A total of 21 subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained from seven lactating dairy ewes of the Chios breed at weeks 1, 2 and 4 after weaning. Results indicated that expression of all PA‐related genes was detected in most of the samples examined. Greatest expression of u‐PAR corresponded to highest (week 1), while greatest expression of PAI‐2 corresponded to lowest (week 4) rate of lipolysis, as indicated by the expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase, in the ovine adipose tissue. There were no significant differences in the expression of the other two PA‐related genes (u‐PA, PAI‐1) throughout the experimental period. Plasminogen activator‐related genes are not expressed in a coordinated manner in the adipose tissue of lactating dairy sheep in the early post‐weaning period. In conclusion, adipose tissue mobilization is correlated with highest expression of u‐PAR and lowest expression of PAI‐2.