Genetics of ovulation rate in farm animals

Abstract

Rate of ovulation (i.e. fecundity) is largely influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The ovarian growth factors including members of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a central role in determining ovulation quota and litter size. Naturally occurring mutation in sheep and knock-out and knock-down studies in murine indicated the importance of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B (BMPR1B) genes in mammals. These factors have major regulatory roles during the gonadotrophin-independent anddependent stages of follicle development. Understanding of BMPs in reproduction assists in the treatment of infertility/ sterility in animals.

qPCR and HRM-based diagnosis of SNPs on growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), a gene associated with sheep (Ovis aries) prolificacy

“…Three fecundity genes have been identified in the sheep, namely, bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B; or activin-like kinase 6, ALK6) known as FecB on chromosome 6, bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) known as FecX on chromosome X, and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) known as FecG on chromosome 5 (Abdoli et al 2013(Abdoli et al , 2016. These genes produce proteins participating in processes related to ovulation rate and offspring number (Pramod et al 2013;Moghadaszadeh et al 2015).…”

Eukaryotic expression, Co-IP and MS identify BMPR-1B protein–protein interaction network

“…As a result of the interaction between pituitary gonadotrophins, autocrine, and paracrine factors of the BMP family, immature oocytes are transformed to fully grown oocytes. This presents the meiotic maturation of an oocyte in the pre-ovulary follicles toward fertilization just before ovulation [23]. BMPs participate in multiple cellular activities such as proliferation, cellular differentiation, migration, organization, and apoptosis [24].…”

An investigation of the effects of <i>BMPR1B</i>, <i>BMP15</i>, and <i>GDF9</i> genes on litter size in Ramlıç and Dağlıç sheep

“…Therefore, selection usually concentrates on these characteristics (Kumm, 2009;Notter, 2008;Tosh and Kemp, 1994). Due to low heritabilities of fertility-related traits, using molecular techniques and combining the results with numerical data is becoming important in this field (Pramod et al, 2013). The fact that economic conditions require rapid genetic progress makes it necessary to choose viable animals.…”

“…In order to detect genetic variation in animal populations, DNA-level studies would give more reliable results, and many methods such as SNP, microsatellites, RFLP, and microarrays are used for these purposes. It was reported that SNPs have a greater potential than the others for realizing genetic progress (Pramod et al, 2013).…”