The present study was conducted to investigate effects of rabbit meat extract on energy metabolism and muscle differentiation in C2C12 myotubes. Water extract of rabbit meat (10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/ml) was used to treat differentiated C2C12 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis were used to determine mRNA or protein levels of energy metabolism-related genes. Total adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was also measured. Treatment with rabbit meat extract significantly increased expression levels of muscle differentiation markers (myogenin and myosin heavy chain) and mitochondrial biogenesis regulators (PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM) in C2C12 myotubes compared to non-treated control. Additionally, rabbit meat extract activated phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC). Rabbit meat extract significantly increased ATP contents in myotubes. These results suggest that rabbit meat extract has the potential to improve energy metabolism in skeletal muscles.

This study evaluated the nutritional composition and quality traits of rabbit meat as compared to chicken meat. Samples of loin (M. longissimus dorsi) and breast meats were collected from rabbit and chicken carcasses, respectively. The meats were then analyzed for the proximate composition, collagen and energy contents, fatty acid composition, myoglobin and heme iron contents, pH value, water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss, meat color, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) value, and texture profile. Compared to chicken breast meat, lower (p<0.05) protein content and higher (p<0.05) ash and collagen contents were obtained in rabbit loin meat. Rabbit meat remarkably had higher (p<0.05) total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and linolenic acid contents and lower (p<0.05) n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio as compared to chicken meat. The pH value and WHC were lower (p<0.05) in rabbit meat than in chicken meat (p<0.05). Rabbit meat exhibited lower (p<0.05) L* value and higher (p<0.05) a* and b* values compared to chicken meat (p<0.05). The WBSF value, hardness, and gumminess were higher (p<0.05) in rabbit meat than in chicken meat (p<0.05). These findings suggest that rabbit meat has higher essential n-3 PUFA, darker color, and firmer texture as compared to chicken meat.