Knock down of the myostatin gene by RNA interference increased body weight in chicken

Abstract

tMyostatin is a negative regulator of muscular growth in poultry and other animals. Of several approaches,knocking down the negative regulator is an important aspect to augment muscular growth in chicken.Knock down of myostatin gene has been performed by shRNA acting against the expression of genein animals. Two methods of knock down of gene in chicken such as embryo manipulation and spermmediated method have been performed. The hatching percentage in embryo manipulation and spermmediated method of knock down was 58.0 and 41.5%, respectively. The shRNA in knock down chickenenhanced body weight at 6 weeks by 26.9%. The dressing percentage and serum biochemical parameterssuch as SGPT and alkaline phosphatase differed significantly (P < 0.05) between knock down and controlbirds. It is concluded that knocking down the myostatin gene successfully augmented growth in chicken.