Characterizing bovine adipocyte distribution and its relationship with carcass and meat characteristics using a finite mixture model

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterizing bovine adipocyte distribution and its relationship with carcass and meat characteristics using a finite mixture model

AU - Cruz, G. D.

AU - Strathe, Anders Bjerring

AU - Rossow, H. A.

AU - Fadel, J. G.

PY - 2012/9

Y1 - 2012/9

N2 - The appreciation of adipose tissue complexity has initiated a new era of multifaceted investigations that continue to provide findings in adipocyte biology, but quantitative descriptions of adipocyte distribution are lacking. The first objective was to develop a finite mixture model to model adipocyte bimodal distribution and to correlate these estimates with carcass and meat characteristics. A secondary objective was to demonstrate within-animal observed variability in adipocyte cellularity. Steers were finished on a high-grain diet (n = 14) or grass (n = 16). One 12-cm thick LM steak from each steer was collected during harvest. A probability density function was developed that partitioned the cell diameter population into small and large populations and described the relative proportions of cells for each animal in these 2 distinct populations. Five parameters were estimated through the finite mixture model: the means (μ1 and μ2) and SD (σ1 and σ2) for the small and large adipocyte populations, respectively, and a proportion parameter (p) describing the proportion of the distribution of the smaller adipocyte populations. The proportion parameter for all animals tended to be different (P = 0.07) between groups with the grain presenting a p of 22.5 ± 12.5% and grass 16.2 ± 4.7%. The μ2 was correlated with yield grade (YG, P = 0.04), and σ2 with final BW, HCW, dressing percentage, YG, and quality grade score (P = 0.01). When correlating these parameters with the sensory data, μ2 and σ2 were correlated with tenderness (P ≤ 0.05), σ1 and p with juiciness (P ≤ 0.05), and p with overall palatability (P = 0.01). Adipocyte cellularity variability was measured by examining the results from 5 randomly chosen steers from each group (grain and grass). In this subset, the μ1 and p ranged from 32.1 to 46.1 μm and 1 to 27% for grass-finished steers, and ranged from 33.7 to 41.0 μm and 10 to 48% for grain-finished steers. The μ2 and (1 p) ranged from 75.0 to 105.1 μm and 73 to 99% for grass-finished steers, respectively, and ranged from 84.8 to 124.0 μm and 52 to 90% for grain-finished steers, respectively. The finite mixture model provides a quantitative description of the distribution of adipocytes and contributes to explaining adipocyte biology. Adipocyte cellularity variability among samples within an animal is a topic that should be further evaluated, as well as its correlation with other factors, such as gene expression and hormone secretion.

AB - The appreciation of adipose tissue complexity has initiated a new era of multifaceted investigations that continue to provide findings in adipocyte biology, but quantitative descriptions of adipocyte distribution are lacking. The first objective was to develop a finite mixture model to model adipocyte bimodal distribution and to correlate these estimates with carcass and meat characteristics. A secondary objective was to demonstrate within-animal observed variability in adipocyte cellularity. Steers were finished on a high-grain diet (n = 14) or grass (n = 16). One 12-cm thick LM steak from each steer was collected during harvest. A probability density function was developed that partitioned the cell diameter population into small and large populations and described the relative proportions of cells for each animal in these 2 distinct populations. Five parameters were estimated through the finite mixture model: the means (μ1 and μ2) and SD (σ1 and σ2) for the small and large adipocyte populations, respectively, and a proportion parameter (p) describing the proportion of the distribution of the smaller adipocyte populations. The proportion parameter for all animals tended to be different (P = 0.07) between groups with the grain presenting a p of 22.5 ± 12.5% and grass 16.2 ± 4.7%. The μ2 was correlated with yield grade (YG, P = 0.04), and σ2 with final BW, HCW, dressing percentage, YG, and quality grade score (P = 0.01). When correlating these parameters with the sensory data, μ2 and σ2 were correlated with tenderness (P ≤ 0.05), σ1 and p with juiciness (P ≤ 0.05), and p with overall palatability (P = 0.01). Adipocyte cellularity variability was measured by examining the results from 5 randomly chosen steers from each group (grain and grass). In this subset, the μ1 and p ranged from 32.1 to 46.1 μm and 1 to 27% for grass-finished steers, and ranged from 33.7 to 41.0 μm and 10 to 48% for grain-finished steers. The μ2 and (1 p) ranged from 75.0 to 105.1 μm and 73 to 99% for grass-finished steers, respectively, and ranged from 84.8 to 124.0 μm and 52 to 90% for grain-finished steers, respectively. The finite mixture model provides a quantitative description of the distribution of adipocytes and contributes to explaining adipocyte biology. Adipocyte cellularity variability among samples within an animal is a topic that should be further evaluated, as well as its correlation with other factors, such as gene expression and hormone secretion.

KW - Adipocytes

KW - Animal Feed

KW - Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

KW - Animals

KW - Body Composition

KW - Cattle

KW - Diet

KW - Male

KW - Meat

KW - Models, Biological

U2 - 10.2527/jas.2011-4838

DO - 10.2527/jas.2011-4838

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22585809

SN - 0021-8812

VL - 90

SP - 2995

EP - 3002

JO - Journal of Animal Science

JF - Journal of Animal Science

IS - 9

ER -