Small Intestinal Transporters in Two Species of Galliformes: Male and Female Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and Chicken (Gallus gallus)

Abstract

The objective of the first study was to characterize amino peptidase N (APN), peptide (PepT1), amino acid (ASCT1, bo,+AT, CAT1, EAAT3, LAT1, y+LAT2), and sugar transporter expression (GLUT2, GLUT5, SGLT1) in the small intestine of male and female turkeys. Small intestine samples were collected during embryonic development (E21, E24) and DOH. In a separate experiment during post-hatch development (DOH, D7, D14, D21, D28). APN, bo,+AT, PepT1, y+LAT2, GLUT5 and SGLT1 were expressed most on DOH. Post-hatch, all genes except GLUT2 and SGLT1 were expressed greater in females than males. SGLT1 was expressed greater in males. Basolateral transporters were expressed more during early development; while there was more expression of brush border transporters EAAT3, GLUT5 and SGLT1 later in development. In chickens, there are alternatively spliced exons of the PepT2 gene that encode proteins with four different N-termini (Variants 5-8). The objective of this study was to characterize the patterns of expression of these PepT2 variants. Brain, kidney, liver and intestine were analyzed at E18 and D7 (n=5). Expression of Variant 5 was most prominent in the brain and variant 6 was most prominent in the kidney. Variant 8 appeared in all tissues on E18 and D7. Variant 7 was only expressed in late embryonic development in the ileum. Results from these studies demonstrate that there are differences in gene expression of nutrient transporters in two agriculturally important avian species from the same order Galliformes. These differences can be used to improve feed efficiency and enhance the growth of both species.