Differences between porcine longissimus thoracis and semitendinosus intramuscular fat content and the regulation of their preadipocytes during adipogenic differentiation

Intramuscular fat (IMF) plays an important role in pork quality. However, differences in the adipogenic regulation of IMF content between pig longissimus thoracis (LT) and semitendinosus (ST) remain unclear. Here, we found that IMF content of 180-day-old pig LT was greater than that of pig ST. Furthermore, lipid accumulation was earlier and greater in LT intramuscular preadipocytes (L-IMA) than in ST intramuscular preadipocytes (S-IMA) during differentiation. Interestingly, glucose consumption was lower in L-IMA than in S-IMA. Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acid content was greater in L-IMA than in S-IMA, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acid content was lower. Levels of the expression of key adipogenic genes were higher in L-IMA than S-IMA. Compared with S-IMA, adipogenic signals were more activated in L-IMA after adipogenic induction. In conclusion, IMF deposition differences between pig LT and ST were due to different glucose consumption, fatty acid composition, expression of key adipogenic genes and level of activating adipogenic signals between S-IMA and L-IMA during adipogenesis. •The IMF content of 180-day-old pig LT was significantly greater than that of ST.•Adipogenesis in L-IMA was earlier and greater than in S-IMA.•Glucose consumption was much higher in S-IMA than in L-IMA.•MUFA content in L-IMA was markedly greater, whereas PUFA content was much lower.•AKT, ERK and mTOR signals were significantly activated during L-IMA adipogenesis.