Gene expression and fatty acid profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue in lambs supplemented with stearic acid

This study evaluated the effect of stearic acid (SA) supplementation on the fatty acid (FA) profile and the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of ewe lambs. Eight ewe lambs (50% Lacaune × 50% Texel), five months old, were used in a completely randomized design with two treatments: Control and SA (1.5% SA in dry matter intake). The experiment lasted 70 days, and the animals underwent subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy on day 0 (initial period) and day 70 (end period) of supplementation. Samples from initial and end period were analyzed for FA profile, while gene expression analysis was conducted only on samples from end period. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (OnDemand for Academics), with FA profile data analyzed using PROC MIXED, considering treatments, period, and their interactions as fixed effects, and animal as a random effect. Gene expression data were analyzed using PROC TTEST, considering treatments as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. SA supplementation increased lauric acid in subcutaneous adipose tissue by 68.8% over time, despite causing its own reduction (82%) and the decrease of C18:1 trans -11 (44.4%). SA supplementation increased the relative mRNA abundance of the GPAT gene (P = 0.0103), which is involved in triglyceride synthesis in subcutaneous adipose tissue. In conclusion, SA partially modified the FA profile and the expression of genes involved in subcutaneous adipose tissue synthesis in ewe lambs.