ABSTRACT:The present study was aimed to investigate the developmental patterns of FASN (fatty acid synthase) and LIPE (lipase, hormone-sensitive) mRNA in adipose tissue in pigs of different breeds and the relation with carcass fat content. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was sampled and total RNA was extracted to determine FASN and LIPE mRNA levels by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the FASN mRNA level increased with age (P < 0.05) and Jinhua gilts expressed higher FASN mRNA compared with Landrace gilts at 80 and 125 days of age (P < 0.05). In addition, Jinhua gilts expressed lower LIPE mRNA compared with Landrace gilts at 80 days of age (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the ratio of FASN/LIPE mRNA had a similar model in the two breeds, and was higher in Jinhua gilts than that in Landrace gilts at 80 and 125 days of age (P < 0.05). The FASN mRNA level was positively related to carcass fat content in Jinhua and Landrace gilts (r = 0.802, P = 0.01; r = 0.734, P = 0.02; respectively), and the ratio of FASN/LIPE expression exhibited significantly positively related carcass fat content (r = 0.804, P = 0.01; r = 0.749, P = 0.02; respectively).