The Allele and Genotype Frequencies of Bovine Pituitaryspecific Transcription Factor and Leptin Genes in IranianCattle and Buffalo Populations Using PCR-RFLP

Abstract

The use of polymorphic markers in breeding programmes could make selection more accurate and efficient. A total of 324 individuals from six Iranian cattle populations (Sarabi, Golpayegani, Sistani, Taleshi, Mazandarani, Dashtiyari), F1 Golpayegani × Brown Swiss and Iranian buffalo populations were genotyped<br />for the Pit-1 HinfI and leptin Sau3AI polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment<br />length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotype and gene frequencies for each breed were determined and<br />shown to be quite variable among the breeds. The highest frequencies of allele B for the leptin gene and<br />allele A for the Pit-1 gene were found in Dashtiyari and Sistani cattle, respectively. According to our results,<br />the highest AB genotype frequencies were found in the Taleshi and F1 Golpayegani x Brown Swiss cross for<br />the leptin and Pit-1 genes, respectively. These allele frequencies were comparable to previously published<br />data on exotic breeds. The highest and lowest heterozygosities were found in Taleshi and Dashtiyari cattle<br />for the leptin gene and in F1 Golpayegani x Brown Swiss cross and Sistani cattle for the Pit-1 gene, respectively. These values indicated the presence of low variation for these genes in the studied populations.<br />The possible association between molecular polymorphisms within these candidate genes and economic<br />traits for the studied populations should be further investigated.<br /><br />