title: Polymorphisms of the bovine growth  differentiation factor 9 gene associated with superovulation performance in Chinese Holstein cows.
abstract: Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) belongs to the  transforming growth factor β superfamily and plays a critical role in ovarian  follicular development and ovulation rate. We examined the bovine GDF9 gene  polymorphism and analyzed its association with superovulation performance.  Based on the sequence of the bovine GDF9 gene, six pairs of primers were  designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of two exons and intron 1 of GDF9 using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation  polymorphism. Only the products amplified by primer 3-1 displayed polymorphisms.  Sequencing revealed two mutations of A485T and A625T in intron 1 of the GDF9 gene in 171 Chinese Holstein cows treated for superovulation. Association  analysis showed that these two single nucleotide polymorphisms of A485T and  A625T had significant effects on the number of transferable embryos (P <  0.05), and the A625T polymorphism was significantly associated with the total  number of ova (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant additive effect on the  number of transferable embryos was detected in polymorphisms of A485T (P < 0.05). This study is the first to identify two polymorphisms in bovine GDF9 and describe their correlation with superovulation traits in Chinese  Holstein cows.
authors: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors: K Q
authors: KQ
authors: Tang
authors: W C
authors: WC
authors: Yang
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Li
authors: L-G
authors: LG
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013480:Superovulation / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9