Effects of short-term refeeding on the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism in chicks (Gallus gallus)

The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of key genes involved in lipid metabolism in response to feeding in chicks. A total of 18 thirteen day-old male chicks were fasted for 12 h. The mRNA levels of the genes in the liver and white adipose tissue were analyzed after 0, 2, and 4 h of refeeding. The mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) 1, liver X receptor α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, acetyl-CoA carboxylase α and fatty acid synthase were significantly increased after 2 h of refeeding. In contrast, the mRNA levels of PPARα and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a were significantly decreased after 2 h of refeeding. The mRNA level of acyl-CoA oxidase was significantly decreased after 4 h of refeeding. The mRNA levels of cholesterol metabolism-related genes such as SREBP2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase were significantly increased after 2 h of refeeding. In the white adipose tissue, the mRNA level of PPARγ was significantly increased after 2 h of refeeding, whereas the mRNA level of adipose triglyceride lipase was significantly decreased after 4 h of refeeding. These results demonstrated that expression of lipid metabolism-related genes is regulated by short-term refeeding in chicks.