Delayed access of low body weight-selected chicks to food at hatch is associated with up-regulated pancreatic glucagon and glucose transporter gene expression.

Chickens selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) juvenile body weight (BW) for 55 generations differ in BW by 10-fold at selection age. High (HWR) and low (LWR) body weight-relaxed lines have been random-bred since the 46th generation. Our objective was to evaluate the developmental and nutritional regulation of pancreatic mRNA abundance of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1), preproinsulin (PPI), preproglucagon (PPG), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). At day of hatch (DOH) and days 1, 3, 7, and 15 (D1, 3, 7 and 15, respectively), pancreas was collected and real time PCR was performed in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, HWS and LWS were fed or delayed access to food for 72 h post-hatch, and pancreas collected at D15. There was an interaction of line and age for GLUT2 (P=0.001), PPI (P<0.0001), PPG (P=0.034), and PDX1 (P<0.0001). Expression was greater in chicks from LWR and LWS than HWR and HWS. There was an interaction of line and nutrition on PPG (P<0.0001) and GLUT2 (P=0.001) mRNA, where expression was similar among chicks that were fed but greater in LWS than HWS when chicks were delayed access to food. Thus, the first two weeks is important for maturation of pancreatic endocrine function. Long-term selection for BW is associated with differences in pancreas development, and delaying access to food at hatch may have persisting effects on glucose regulatory function.