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Enhanced Expression of Serotonin Receptor 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2C is Associated with Increased Feather Damage in Dongxiang Blue-Shelled Layers

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Abstract

The gene encoding the serotonin receptor 5-hydroxytraptamine 2C (HTR2C) has been implicated in behavioral phenotypes in a number of species. In previous studies, a mutation in the chicken HTR2C gene was found to be associated with feather condition, thereby suggesting a relationship between the gene and receiving feather pecking activity. The present study analyzed the chicken HTR2C gene at both the genomic make-up and expression level in Dongxiang blue-shelled layer. A significant association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs13640917 (C/T) and feather condition was confirmed in the Chinese local layer. Enhanced HTR2C gene expression (151.1-fold) that was associated with high feather damage indicated that the right cerebrum might be the critical region for HTR2C to participate in the regulation of receiving feather pecking behavior.

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Funding

The Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (13ZR1437000), Shanghai Agricultural Breeder-industry Technology (2014-5), and China Agriculture Research System (CARS-41-K05) supported this study.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2901 Beidi road, Minghang Qu, Shanghai, 201106, China

      Junfeng Yao, Xiaoliang Wang, Huangxiang Yan, Xia Cai & Changsuo Yang

    2. National Poultry Engineer Research Center, Shanghai, China

      Junfeng Yao, Xiaoliang Wang, Huangxiang Yan, Xia Cai, Min Wang, Yingying Tu & Changsuo Yang

    Authors
    1. Junfeng Yao
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    2. Xiaoliang Wang
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    3. Huangxiang Yan
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    Correspondence to Changsuo Yang.

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    Author Junfeng Yao declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Xiaoliang Wang declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Huangxiang Yan declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Xia Cai declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Min Wang declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Yingying Tu declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication. Author Changsuo Yang declares no conflicts of interest associated with this paper or its publication.

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    All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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    Junfeng Yao and Xiaoliang Wang have contributed equally to this work.

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    Yao, J., Wang, X., Yan, H. et al. Enhanced Expression of Serotonin Receptor 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2C is Associated with Increased Feather Damage in Dongxiang Blue-Shelled Layers. Behav Genet 47, 369–374 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-017-9839-1

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