Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
Anim Genet. 2012 Oct;43(5):564-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02306.x. Epub 2012 Mar 6.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) plays a critical role in growth hormone (GH) synthesis, release and regulation in animals. The objective of this study was to investigate variations of the chicken GHRHR gene and their associations with growth and reproduction traits in 768 Beijing You chickens. Results revealed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the gene (g.-1654A>G, g.-1411A>G and g.-142T>C). Association analysis revealed that the novel SNP g.-1654A>G had significant effects on chicken body weight at 7, 9, 11, 13, 17 weeks of age and the age of first egg as well as egg number at 32, 36 and 40 weeks. Significant association was also observed between g.-1411A>G and g.-142T>C with EN24. Moreover, the age of first egg was distinctly related with g.-142T>C (P < 0.05). Although significant statistical difference was not detected in GHRHR mRNA levels among genotypes of the SNPs (P > 0.05), strong expression variations of the gene were found between the ages 17 and 20 weeks in the population (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the three SNPs in the GHRHR promoter could be used as potential genetic markers to improve the growth and reproductive traits in chickens.
生长激素释放激素受体 (GHRHR) 在动物的生长激素 (GH) 合成、释放和调节中起着关键作用。本研究旨在研究鸡 GHRHR 基因的变异及其与生长和繁殖性状的关系，共检测了 768 只北京油鸡中的三个基因启动子区域的单核苷酸多态性 (SNPs) (g.-1654A>G、g.-1411A>G 和 g.-142T>C)。关联分析显示，新发现的 SNP g.-1654A>G 对鸡体重 7、9、11、13、17 周龄和首次产蛋日龄以及 32、36 和 40 周龄的产蛋数有显著影响。g.-1411A>G 和 g.-142T>C 与 EN24 之间也存在显著关联。此外，首次产蛋日龄与 g.-142T>C 明显相关 (P < 0.05)。尽管在 SNP 基因型中未检测到 GHRHR mRNA 水平的显著统计学差异 (P > 0.05)，但在群体中 17 至 20 周龄时发现该基因的表达存在强烈的变化 (P < 0.05)。这些结果表明，GHRHR 启动子中的三个 SNP 可作为潜在的遗传标记，用于改善鸡的生长和繁殖性状。
