Hepatic Expression Profile of HIF1a & FOXO3 During Chicken Embryonic Development

Overview

Between the fertilization and hatching stages of embryonic development, chickens undergo a transition between lipolytic and lipogenic metabolism as part of a physiological process known as the “metabolic switch”. We hypothesize that the metabolic switch begins as a result of changes in gene expression in response to decreasing oxygen levels in the egg. This study focuses on expression of the HIF1A and FOXO3 genes in the liver throughout embryonic development. The HIF1A and FOXO3 genes were chosen because these have been shown to facilitate metabolic processes by activating transcription of other genes in hypoxic conditions and to regulate apoptosis under stress, respectively. Expression levels of both will likely influence liver functions, one of which is fatty acid metabolism. Liver samples were taken on embryonic days 12, 15, 18, and 20. We used RT-qPCR to measure and compare gene expression among developmental stages. We expect to find that in response to the hypoxic environment in the egg, the expression of genes will change. Specifically, in our study, we have found HIF1A and FOXO3 are differentially expressed during embryonic development. We hope this investigation will improve understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms behind the metabolic transition in chicken embryo liver development, particularly in relation to the HIF1A and FOXO3 genes.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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