Abstract: The author performed the comparative analysis of TIMP3 gene in different tissues and in skeletal muscles at different periods from Landrace and Tongcheng pigs by Quantification PCR (QPCR). The results showed that TIMP3 gene was widely expressed in all tissues examined, exhibiting similar spatial expression pattern in both pig breeds except in leg and pancreas. The gene was most highly expressed in lung and uterus, moderately expressed in skeletal muscle, spleen and stomach, and least expressed in intestine, heart. Moreover, it had been also showed that TIMP3 exhibited different expression patterns, a greater range of high-level in Tongcheng than Landrace pigs, although it showed a significant higher expression level in gestation than after birth in both pig breeds. These results suggested that TIMP3 is potentially involved in the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle development asynchronization and influence meat production traits in different pig breeds.

Key words: TIMP3; skeletal muscle; expression pattern; quantification PCR; pig