Soybean Oil Added To The Diet Reduces Myostatin Gene Expression In Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Of Sheep

Myostatin is a protein involved in the regulation of myogenesis; animal meat quality can be influenced by its expression. Animals with low myostatin levels have increased muscle mass and are relatively stronger. We analyzed the influence of the addition of soybean, used soybean and palm oils to the diet on Myostatin gene expression in the Logissimus dorsi muscle of sheep reared in the Northeast Amazon region. A basic control diet was elaborated and used with the addition of 4% of the different oils. All animals were slaughtered at a weight of 35 kg and 5 g of Logissumus dorsi muscle was collected and RNA extracted, quantified and a RT-PCR was run. The control diet, without added oil, gave the highest Myostatin expression levels among all treatments. When unused soybean oil was added to the diet, it significantly decreased Myostatin expression and induced muscle hyperplasia, generating animals with greater musculature. The other oils did not significantly affect expresson of this gene.