China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (3): 1041-1047.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2022.03.026

• Preventive Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of PCV3 on the Expression of Growth-related Hormones and Functional Genes in Piglets

SUN Qingshuai1,2, YAN Weidong2,4, LI Chang1,2, WU Hao1,2, LI Changchun1,3, HE Qigai1,2   

  1. 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    3. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    4. Wuhan Keqian Biological Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430072, China
  • Received:2021-09-06 Online:2022-03-05 Published:2022-03-03

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Porcine circovirus (PCV3) on the expression of growth-related hormones and functional genes in piglets, and explore the mechanism of PCV3 causing weight loss in piglets.【Method】 Eight 23 day-old non-infected piglets were randomly divided into PCV3 infected group and DMEM group.Piglets of PCV3 infected and DMEM groups were intramuscular injected with 3 mL of PCV3 virus (109 copies/mL) and 3 mL of DMEM in the neck respectively.The piglets were weighed before injection (0 d) and 3, 7, 14 and 21 d after injection, the clinical manifestations were observed, and serum, oral swab, nasal swab and anal swab were collected.Real-time quantitative PCR method was used to detect the viral load of PCV3, ELISA was performed to determine the content of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in the serum after infected 3, 7, 14 and 21 d.Real-time quantitative PCR was utilized to determine the relative expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) genes in longissiums dorsi, spleen and liver.【Result】 The final weight and average daily gain of the piglets in infected group were extremely significantly lower than those in DMEM group (P<0.01).The viral load of serum, oral swab, nasal swab and anal swab in infected group reached the highest at 14 d.The content of T3 in the infected group was extremely significantly higher than that in DMEM group on the 14th and 21st day of infection (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in the content of T4 (P>0.05).Compared with DMEM group, the relative expression of IGF-1 gene in longissimus dorsi was extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01), there was no significant difference in the relative expression of GHR, IGF-1 and IGF-1R genes in leg muscle and spleen (P>0.05), the relative expression of GHR gene in liver was extremely significantly increased (P<0.01), and the relative expression of IGF-1R gene was increased significantly (P<0.05).【Conclusion】 PCV3 infection in piglets could cause abnormal metabolism, reduce the growth-promoting and mitogenic effects of IGF-1 on the back muscles, leading to weight loss in piglets.

Key words: Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3); growth hormone; growth function gene

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