Expression of myogenic, growth related, mitochondrial and antioxidant genes across developmental stage, muscle type, and genotype in Japanese quail skeletal muscle

This study examined the developmental and genotype dependent expression of key myogenic (MYOD1, MYOG, PAX7), growth related (IGF1, GHR, MSTN), mitochondrial (ANT, COXIII, UCP), and antioxidant (SOD1, CAT) genes in skeletal muscles of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Muscle samples from pectoralis major (glycolytic) and biceps femoris (oxidative) were collected at post hatch days 3 and 42 from three genotypes (Japanese, Jumbo, and Texas). RT-qPCR data, normalized with ACTB, revealed distinct stage, muscle, and genotype dependent regulation across gene groups. Early post hatch stages showed elevated expression of MYOD1, MYOG, and IGF1, associated with active myoblast proliferation, while MSTN and UCP increased at day 42, reflecting developmental stage–related changes associated with muscle maturation and metabolic adaptation. ANT and COXIII showed higher expression in biceps femoris, consistent with enhanced oxidative metabolism, whereas UCP expression was higher at day 42, predominantly in the pectoralis major. Antioxidant genes exhibited muscle specific expression: SOD1 and CAT were consistently higher in biceps femoris, suggesting stronger redox regulation in oxidative muscle fibers. Several genes also displayed significant interaction effects among developmental stage, muscle type, and genotype, highlighting context dependent regulation of individual gene expression patterns related to muscle growth and metabolism. Overall, these findings describe robust expression differences between the two post hatch stages examined and underscore that muscle type and genetic background contribute to the regulation of myogenic, growth related, mitochondrial, and antioxidant genes in quail skeletal muscle.