The objective of this research was to explore the regulatory functions of metabolic reprogramming-related genes on the development of porcine liver during embryonic growth and postnatal maturation. Hepatic specimens were collected at fetal (94 days post-conception, dpc) and postnatal (1, 28, and 188 days postnatum, dpn) stages for transcriptomic analysis. We used an integrated bioinformatics method, which included differential expression analysis, multi-database pathway enrichment, and protein-protein interaction network analysis, to find and rank important genes. Metabolism-related genes were curated from GeneCards. Comparing the transcriptomes showed an increase in genomic activation over time, with differentially expressed gene (DEG) patterns depending on the stage:1,939 (1dpn vs. 94dpc), 1,448 (28 vs. 1dpn), and 880 DEGs (188 vs. 28dpn). Cross-stage analysis identified 182 conserved DEGs, among which 67 were metabolic reprogramming-related genes. Functional annotation indicated that there were enrichments of the development process (cell differentiation, mitotic spindle organization) and metabolism process (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, and focal adhesion). Network topology analysis revealed 9 hub genes (such as VCL, CCNB1, HSP90AA1) that may control hepatic maturation. In short, it demonstrates how metabolism changes over time during pig liver formation. Conserved metabolic regulators such as LMNB1 and CAV1 are found to be important coordinators of hepatic differentiation and metabolic adaptation. The findings provide a clear picture of the transcriptional path leading to metabolic reprogramming at various stages of pig liver development.

To Cite This Article: Li X, Zhang B and Yang B, 2026. Decoding metabolic reprogramming-related genes in porcine liver development: temporal dynamics from embryogenesis to postnatal maturation. Pak Vet J, 46(2): 282-298. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.022