Influences of melatonin treatment, melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) and kisspeptin (KiSS-1) gene polymorphisms on first conception in Sarda ewe lambs.
In order to investigate if the melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) and kisspeptin (KiSS-1) genes influence the reproductive response to melatonin treatment, 510 Sarda ewe lambs were divided into groups C (control) and M; Group M received one melatonin implant (18mg). After 35 days rams were introduced for 40 days and subsequent lambing dates and number of newborns were recorded. The MTNR1A gene Exon II and KiSS-1 gene Exon I were amplified and genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; C606T and G612A) in MTNR1A and one (G1035A) in KiSS-1 were found. The most frequent genotypes were G/G (63%) and C/C (53%) for MTNR1A and G/G (92%) for KiSS-1. Treated animals showed a higher lambing rate (P<0.05) and an advanced lambing date (P<0.05) compared with controls. The three SNPs did not influence the onset of reproductive activity. The majority of the G/G animals of Group M lambed before 190 days after ram introduction (P<0.05), while in Group C a higher number of G/G animals lambed after this date. Data revealed the positive effect of melatonin treatment on the time of first conception in ewe lambs and highlighted that the G/G genotype of the MTNR1A gene is able to influence the reproductive response to melatonin treatment.
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Luridiana
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Mura
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Daga
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Cosso
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Bodano
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Farci
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Zidda
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia.
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Carcangiu
D000483:Alleles; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050498:Live Birth / Q000662:veterinary; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004343:Drug Implants; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D059648:Kisspeptins; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D008550:Melatonin