title: Genome-wide association study for semen quality traits in German Warmblood stallions.
abstract: We performed a genome-wide association study for semen quality traits in 139 German Warmblood stallions. Stallions were genotyped using the Illumina equine SNP50 Beadchip. Traits analysed were de-regressed estimated breeding values (EBVs) for gel-free volume, sperm concentration, total number of sperm, progressive motility and the total number of progressively motile sperm. The GWAS revealed 29 SNPs on 12 different chromosomes as genome-wide significantly associated with semen quality traits. For ten genomic regions we could retrieve candidate genes influencing stallion fertility. Among the candidate genes, we could find the genes encoding cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP1, CRISP2 and CRISP3). This was the first GWAS in horses performed for semen quality traits.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.affiliation: State Stud Celle of Lower Saxony, Spörckenstraße 10, 29221 Celle, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinsson
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Medicine-Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sieme
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: ottmar.distl@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ottmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Distl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Candidate genes; Genome-wide association; Horse; SNP; Semen; Warmblood