TY - JOUR JO - Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences J2 - J. Anim. Feed Sci. SN - 1230-1388 VL - 28 IS - 2 PY - 2019 ID - Cao2019 TI - Changes of β-carotene and retinol levels and BCO1 gene and protein expressions in yak tissues at different nutritional seasons AB - In order to explore relationship between the yellow fat and β-carotene metabolism in yaks, contents of β-carotene and retinol in tissues, serum and digestive tract contents were analysed at periods of rich and deficient nutrition. Expressions of β-carotene 15, 15’-monooxygenase 1 (BCO1) gene and protein were also studied using real-time PCR and western blot. It was shown that contents of β-carotene in serum, liver, pancreas, duodenum, jejunum and contents of rumen and ileum were higher in the period of rich nutrition than in the period of deficient nutrition ( P < 0.05). Content of retinol in liver was much higher in the period of rich nutrition than in the period of deficient nutrition ( P < 0.05). Expression levels of BCO1 mRNA in kidney, jejunum, ileum, duodenum, muscle and rumen in the period of rich nutrition were significantly lower than in the period of deficient nutrition ( P < 0.05), besides pancreas. Expressions of BCO1 protein in duodenum, jejunum, kidney, muscle, and rumen were lower in the period of rich nutrition than in the period of deficient nutrition ( P < 0.05). AU - Cao, D.-X. AU - Wang, S.-L. AU - Wang, R. AU - Chai, S.-T. AU - Liu, S.-J. AU - Hao, L.-Z. SP - 120 EP - 127 DA - 2019 DO - 10.22358/jafs/109953/2019 UR - https://doi.org/10.22358/jafs/109953/2019 ER -