Differential expression patterns of candidate genes pertaining to productive and immune functions in hepatic tissue of heat-stressed Salem Black goats

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted with the primary objective to assess the impact of heat stress on the expression patterns of different candidate genes pertaining to productive and immunological functions in Salem Black goats. The study was conducted for a period of 45 days in 12, 10-month to 1-year-old female Salem Black breed goats randomly allocated into 2 groups of 6 animals each, C (n = 6; Salem Black control) and HS (n = 6; Salem Black heat stress). The expression pattern of growth hormone receptor,insulin-like growth factor 1 gene, interleukin-2 (IL-2),IL-6, IL-18, tumour necrosis factor α and interferon β (IFN-β) in hepatic tissue was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in HS group as compared to C group. The results generated from this study point towards the compromised growth and immune status of Salem Black breed probably to support life-sustaining activities to adapt to heat stress challenges.

Abbreviations: IL: Interleukin; GHR: growth hormone receptor; IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor 1; TNFα: tumour necrosis factor α; IFN-β: interferon β; TLRs: toll-like receptors; HPA: hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis; HSF 1: heat shock factor; NK: natural killer cell; THI: temperature humidity index; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HPRT1: hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase 1; SDHA: succinate dehydrogenase

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptation
• goat
• growth
• heat stress
• immunity

Acknowledgments

The authors are also highly thankful to the Director, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology for providing the research facilities to complete the experiment. The authors are also highly thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research for providing funding for this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are also highly thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research for providing funding for this project.