Correlation between the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the pyloric section of the abomasum and fat deposition in bulls’ carcasses

Abstract

The study was aimed at investigating the relationship between the number of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) structures present in the pyloric section of the abomasum and fat accumulation in carcasses of bulls – crosses of Polish Lowland Black-and-White cows mated with Limousin bulls. The bulls were slaughtered at the mean age of 629 days and body weight of 597 kg. The distribution of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript-immunoreactive in the pyloric section of abomasum was assessed on the basis of CART positive immunohistochemical reactions. Significant interdependence was found between the number of CART structures and carcass adiposity and the fat content of the longissimus lumborum muscle. The identified tendency for fat tissue increase in the carcasses was accompanied by a lower concentration of the structures. In the endocrine system cell the greatest number of immunopositive cells were found; ranging from 28.9 in animals more obese to 37.8 with the smallest amount of fat accumulated. The lowest numbers of immunopositive cells, ranging from 2.4 to 3.9 were noted in the submucous plexus layer. Slightly more structures were observed in nerve fibres and the myenteric plexus, at 2.9 and 4.7, respectively. The number of CART in the endocrine system was correlated with subcutaneous fat (-0.451) and marbling (-0.514). The amount of CART in these anatomical layers was significantly correlated with the thickness of subcutaneous fat (-0.541 and -0.636) and the weight of perinephric fat (-0.487 and -0.672). The results confirm that CART is an important neurotransmitter that participates in the regulation of fat deposition in the body. It must be stressed that the correlations with the analysed fat deposition indices concerned the adiposity indicators influencing the commercial value of carcasses and the meat traits important to the consumer.