Molecular Characterization and Expression Profiles of the Ovine LH? Gene and Its Association with Litter Size in Chinese Indigenous Small-Tailed Han Sheep.

ABSTRACT: The luteinizing hormone beta polypeptide (LH?) is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by basophilic granular cells of the adenohypophysis, and plays an important role in mammalian follicular development. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the cDNA sequence of the ovine LH? gene. RT-qPCR analysis showed that ovine LH? was widely expressed in tissues, with significantly higher expression in the hypophysis than that in other tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, rumen, duodenum, muscle, fat, hypothalamus, and sex glands) (p < 0.01). Hypophyseal expression of LH? mRNA in lamb increased with age and reached a peak at 70 days, although a slight decrease was observed at 84 days of age. In addition, the synonymous mutation g.727C > T detected in the LH? gene was confirmed to be significantly associated with the litter size (p < 0.01). Ewes carrying the TT genotype produced more lambs than those carrying the TC and CC genotypes (0.42 and 0.39 per delivery, respectively; p < 0.05). Our results confirm the association of ovine LH? with litter size in Small-Tailed Han Sheep and implicate LH? as a candidate for improving reproductive traits in agricultural sheep breeding programs.

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7143468 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature