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Polymorphisms of the bovine luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene and its association with superovulation traits

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Abstract

The major limitation to the development of embryo transfer technique in cattle is the highly variable between individuals in ovulatory response to FSH-induced superovulation. The objective of this study was to identify a predictor to forecast superovulation response on the basis of associations between superovulation performance and gene polymorphism, variation in the bovine luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene was investigated using PCR-single-strand conformational (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of G51656T, A51703G, A51726G and G51737A were identified at the intron 9 of the LHCGR gene in 171 Chinese Holstein cows treated for superovulation, and evaluated its associations with superovulatory response. Association analysis showed that these four SNPs had significant effects on the total number of ova (TNO) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the A51703G and A51726G polymorphisms significantly associated with the number of transferable embryos (NTE) (P < 0.05). In addition, significant additive effect on TNO was detected in polymorphisms of G51656T (P < 0.05) and A51703G (P < 0.01), and the A51703G polymorphism also had significant additive effects on NTE (P < 0.01). These results indicate that LHCGR gene is a potential marker for superovulation response and can be used to predict the most appropriate dose of FSH for superovulation in Chinese Holstein cows.

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Acknowledgments

This work was by supported by Huazhong Agricultural University Scientific & Technological Self-innovation Foundation (No.2009SC005) and the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System (CARS-37-04B).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Wu-Cai Yang, Ke-Qiong Tang & Li-Guo Yang

  2. Beijing Amber Embryo Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100107, People’s Republic of China

    Shu-Jing Li & Lu-Ming Chao

  3. College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Li-Guo Yang

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  1. Wu-Cai Yang
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  2. Ke-Qiong Tang
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Correspondence to Li-Guo Yang.

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Wu-Cai Yang, and Ke-Qiong Tang are the Co-first authors.

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Yang, WC., Tang, KQ., Li, SJ. et al. Polymorphisms of the bovine luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene and its association with superovulation traits. Mol Biol Rep 39, 2481–2487 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0999-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-0999-4

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