title: Polymorphism of growth hormone gene and its association with seminal and sexual behavioral traits in crossbred cattle.
abstract: The decline in the male reproductive ability in terms of sexual behavior and seminal traits might lead to nonavailability of required number of bulls in a progeny testing program. The present study was conducted in 493 crossbred cattle (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) bulls to study polymorphisms of growth hormone (GH) gene and its association with seminal and sexual behavioral characteristics. A 428-base pair fragment of GH gene spanning over the fourth exon, fourth intron, and fifth exon was amplified and digested with AluI restriction enzyme. Bulls were found to be polymorphic, with two variants, LL and LV, and higher genotypic frequency for LL being 0.88. Twelve nucleotide changes and a single nonsynonymous substitution of Leucine by Valine were observed from GH1 (L) to GH2 (V). Statistical analysis revealed that the genotype of the GH gene had a significant effect on libido score, reaction time, Flehmen response, requirement of mounting stimulus, sperm mass activity, number of semen doses per collection, individual fresh sperm motility, postthaw sperm motility, acrosome integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling test, live and dead count, total morphological abnormality, and head abnormality of sperm in crossbred bulls. Growth hormone gene might be considered a candidate gene for seminal and sexual behavioral traits in crossbred cattle.
authors: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: arunachatterjee@gmail.com.
authors: Aruna
authors: A
authors: Pal
authors: Dairy Cattle Breeding Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India.
authors: Atish Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Chakravarty
authors: Animal Nutrition Division, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India.
authors: Paresh Nath
authors: PN
authors: Chatterjee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone
keywords: Crossbred cattle; Growth hormone gene; Polymorphism; Seminal traits; Sexual-behavioral traits