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Korat chicken (KRC), a slow-growing chicken known for its unique meat flavor and nutritional value, exhibits variation in feed efficiency (FE). Since the hypothalamus acts as a convergent and integrative center for multiple nutrient-related signals, this study aims to compare transcriptomic profiles and neuronal pathways in hypothalamus between two groups of male KRCs differing in residual feed intake (RFI). RNA was extracted from hypothalamic tissues of males KRC either in the low-RFI (n = 10) or in the high-RFI (n = 10) group. The results showed 257 DEGs, including 138 upregulated and 119 downregulated genes in the low RFI compared to the high-RFI groups. Gene Ontology analysis of the DEGs revealed that they were mainly related to metabolic processes and transporter activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis identified 3 significant pathways, including the folate biosynthesis (3 genes including GCH1, TPH2, and TH), tyrosine metabolism (3 genes including DDC, TH and FAH), and tryptophan metabolism (3 genes including DDC, TPH2, and TDO2) pathways. The upregulated genes in the low-RFI group (TPH2, DDC, and TH) were enriched in the folate biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism pathways, which is consistent with the observed plasma concentrations of dopamine (DA) and serotonin/5-hydroxytryptamine (ST/5-HT). These findings suggest that differences in DA and ST/5-HT levels among the chicken groups may be associated with variation in FE. Furthermore, genes such as GCH1, TPH2, DDC, TH, and FAH could be candidate genes supporting the role of hypothalamus in regulating FE of slow-growing KRC.
Sinpru et al. (Fri,) studied this question.