Changes in the mRNA Expression of TGFβ Receptor Types II and III in the Anterior Pituitary during Induced Molting in Hens

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine whether TGFβ receptors mRNA were expressed in the chicken anterior pituitary, and their expressions were changed during induced molting by the regulation of feeding. White Leghorn laying hens were subjected to induced molting. The anterior pituitary tissues were collected from hens of pretreatment (PT), 3d after withdrawal of feeding (3DWF), 1d and 5d after the resumption of feeding (1DRF and 5DRF, respectively), and on the day of resumption of egg-laying (RL). They were processed for semi-quantification of TGFβ receptors type II (TβRII) and type III (TβRIII) mRNA expressions by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The TβRII and TβRIII mRNA expressions were observed in the anterior pituitaries in all groups of hens. The expression of TβRII and TβRIII βmRNA significantly declined in the 1DRF hens and recovered by the resumption of laying. These results suggest that TGFβs may play role as a local regulator of the glandular cell population and/or differentiation during induced molting.

Keywords

• chicken anterior pituitary
• tgfβ receptors
• mrna expression
• induced molting