Abstract
BackgroundGenetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the potent gene markers for improving fecundity traits in Egyptian sheep and goats. Also, these favorable gene variants could be applied in the breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS), aiming towards the potential amelioration of reproduction and production in such small ruminants. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene on fecundity traits including the mean number of lambing “MNL” and mean number of twin production “MNTP” of Egyptian sheep and goats. ResultsThis experiment involved 113 mothers, 83 of sheep and 30 of goats, at first, second, third, and fourth parity, and also 26 young females, 12 of sheep and 14 of goats at age of sexual maturation. T-ARMS-PCR analysis was performed on five mutation points (G1, G4, G6, G7, and G8). In sheep, the heterozygous mothers of G4 had significant elevation (P ≤ 0.05) of MNL and MNTP than wild-type homozygous ewes. However, the heterozygous mothers of G1 and G6 gave a reduction of MNL and MNTP as compared to mothers with wild-type genotypes. The ewes of G7 had heterozygous genotype (AG), and the ewes of G8 had wild type (CC). In goat, G4 and G7 were polymorphic, and G1, G6, and G8 were monomorphic type. Based on these findings, it must be selected the young sheep females of heterozygous in G4, and the young goat females of heterozygous in G4 and G7 for participating in a successful breeding program, because they will have potential high fecundity traits. ConclusionThe present results confirmed that the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the major gene markers for enhancement of the prolificacy in Egyptian sheep and goats and could be applied in a successful breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS) in small ruminants.
Highlights
Genetic variants of the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene were considered to be the potent gene markers for improving fecundity traits in Egyptian sheep and goats
The present study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of the GDF9 gene represented in five mutation points, G1, G4, G6, G7, and G8, and evaluate their effects on fecundity traits including the mean number of lambing “MNL” and the mean number of twin production “MNTP” in Egyptian sheep and goats
In the present study, the method of tetra-primer ARMSPCR had been successfully applied to type a total of five mutation points of the GDF9 gene
Summary
Genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the potent gene markers for improving fecundity traits in Egyptian sheep and goats. It has been established that an animal has an increase of ovulation rate; it produces multiple births was mapped on ovine chromosome 5, spanning approximately 2.5 Kb and comparised two exons (exon 1397 bp and exon 2965 bp) and one intron (1126 bp) [30]. This gene was revealed to have an important role during early folliculogenesis in female reproduction as a growth and differentiation factor secreted by oocytes in mammals [14]. In ovine [12] and caprine [33], the expression of GDF9 mRNA and protein had been detected at all stages of ovarian follicles and luteal tissue
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