Influence of melatonin receptor 1A gene polymorphisms on seasonal reproduction in Sarda ewes with different body condition scores and ages

•Seasonal reproduction, in sheep, has been found to be associated to MTNR1A gene polymorphism.•In some study this effect is influenced by the breed sheep, age and/or body condition.•We confirmed that in Sarda sheep this polymorphism influences the seasonal reproduction regardless of BCS and age.•The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal reproduction science 2014-10, Vol.149 (3-4), p.173-177
Main Authors: Mura, M.C., Luridiana, S., Bodano, S., Daga, C., Cosso, G., Diaz, M.L., Bini, P.P., Carcangiu, V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aging - physiology
Animals
BCS
Body Composition - physiology
Female
MTNR1A gene
Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 - genetics
Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 - metabolism
Reproduction - physiology
Sarda sheep breed
Seasonal reproduction
Seasons
Sheep - genetics
Sheep - physiology
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Summary:•Seasonal reproduction, in sheep, has been found to be associated to MTNR1A gene polymorphism.•In some study this effect is influenced by the breed sheep, age and/or body condition.•We confirmed that in Sarda sheep this polymorphism influences the seasonal reproduction regardless of BCS and age.•The advance of reproductive activity out of breeding season leads to an extension of the productive period. In several species, circadian changes in melatonin concentrations play a key role in the photoperiodic control of seasonality. In sheep, two silent mutations in the melatonin receptor 1A gene (MTNR1A) at positions 606 and 612 of the exon II are associated with seasonal reproduction. However, in some sheep breeds, no relationships have been found between MTNR1A polymorphisms and reproductive seasonality. This lack of relationship could be due to effects of breed, body condition, age, and/or environmental conditions. Thus, the present study was conducted with the Sarda sheep breed with the aim of documenting the effect of MTNR1A gene polymorphisms on reproductive resumption and to evaluate whether such this effect was modified by differences in body condition score (BCS) and age. Six hundred three- to six-year-old multiparous ewes with BCSs between 2.5 and 3.5 were selected. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR to amplify the ovine exon II of the MTNR1A gene. The amplicons were subjected to digestion with the restriction enzymes RsaI and MnlI to detect the T606C and A612G polymorphisms, respectively. Ewes carrying the G/G, G/A, C/C, and C/T genotypes exhibited higher fertility rates (P
ISSN:0378-4320
1873-2232
DOI:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.07.022