358AGE-DEPENDENT EXPRESSION OF MUC4 AND MUC13 GENE IN SUTAI (DUROC×MEISHAN) PIGLETSMUC4 and MUC13 proteins have several biological functions, such as the lubrication, protection of surface epithelium, cell multiplication, immune responses and cell adhesion. Based on Sutai pig, the expression of MUC4 and MUC13 gene were assayed by Real-time PCR to detect the 11 tissue expression and analyzed the differential expression among the different day-age (8-day, 18-day, 30-day and 35-day) . This study aimed at analyzing the expression profile and developmental expression patterns of MUC4 and MUC13 gene in Sutai pigs, in order to provide a theoretical basis for further study of the function and mechanisms of MUC4 and MUC13 gene. RT-PCR analysis showed MUC4 and MUC13 were present in all tissues among all developmental stages. The results revealed higher expression was in 30 and 35-day individuals than that in the 8 and 18-day individuals in 11 tissues, with significant differences in the liver, spleen, stomach, lymphatic, duodenum and jejunum (P < 0.05). MUC13 gene showed the similar expression rule as the MUC4 gene in the liver, spleen, lung, duodenum and jejunum(P < 0.05). The experiment results indicated that MUC4 and MUC13 gene might play a role in protection of surface epithelium, immune response and resisting gastrointestinal infection of pathogenic microorganisms in weaned piglets. MUC13 highly expressed in the duodenum and jejunum tissues and showed obvious developmental expression rule, which may resist infection from pathogenic microorganisms in weaned pigletsslwu@yzu.edu.cnResearch5112015MUC4 gene,MUC13 gene,mRNA expressionWenhua Dong,Qiufang Zong, Lina Gan,Weiyun Qin,Guoqiang Zhu, Wenbin Bao,Shenglong WuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China., College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, Yangzhou Un