Abstract
BackgroundEggshell quality is important for the poultry industry. During eggshell formation a mass of inorganic minerals is deposited. The Sodium Channel (SCNN1) gene family plays an essential role in cation transportation. The objective of this study was to investigate the pattern of expression of members of the SCNN1 gene family, their variation and their effects on eggshell quality.ResultThe highest expression of SCNN1a, SCNN1b, and SCNN1g genes were in the active uterus during eggshell mineralization, while SCNN1d showed its highest expression level in the quiescent uterus (no egg present). Nineteen candidate SNPs from the four genes were genotyped in a population of 338 White Leghorn layers. Association analysis between SNPs (haplotypes/diplotypes) and eggshell traits was performed. Among seven significant SNPs, five SNPs were associated with eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, eggshell percentage or/and egg weight, while the other two SNPs within SCNN1d were only associated with eggshell percentage. These SNPs had a 0.25-6.99% contribution to phenotypic variance, depending on the trait. In haplotype analysis, SCNN1b and SCNN1d were associated with egg weight. The SCNN1b and SCNN1g were significantly associated with eggshell weight while only SCNN1g explained 2.04% of phenotypic variance. All the alleles of the members of SCNN1 gene family were associated with eggshell percentage and eggshell thickness, and others members had an association with eggshell strength except for SCNN1a. The contribution of different haplotypes of the SCNN1 gene family to eggshell phenotypic variance ranged from 0.09% to 5.74%.ConclusionsOur study indicated that the SCNN1 gene family showed tissue expression specificity and was significantly associated with eggshell traits in chicken. This study provides evidence that genetic variation in members of the sodium channel can influence eggshell quality.
Highlights
Eggshell quality is important for the poultry industry
Our study indicated that the SCNN1 gene family showed tissue expression specificity and was significantly associated with eggshell traits in chicken
Expression pattern of SCNN1 gene family The expression status of the SCNN1 gene family was analyzed by real time quantitative PCR
Summary
Eggshell quality is important for the poultry industry. The Sodium Channel (SCNN1) gene family plays an essential role in cation transportation. Ion transportation plays a very important role in the process of eggshell formation. Na+ was actively transported across the uteruine epithelium into the plasma while net Ca2+ secretion rose progressively when perfused Na+ concentrations were increased. These observations suggested a positive influence of Na+ absorption on net Ca2+ secretion in the avian uterus [8]. New evidence suggests that the concentration and transfer of Na+ can directly influence the transportation of calcium and bicarbonate ions in chicken uterus [9]. The amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels are made up of four subunits α, β, γ, and δ (encoded by the SCNN1a, SCNN1b, SCNN1g and SCNN1d genes, respectively)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
