Background: Genetic information is necessary to devise strategic plans aimed to improve the genetic merit of buffalos. Objective: To assess the effect of genetic polymorphisms in GH, Pit-1, GHR, GHRHR, and KCN3 genes on milk production and body weight of Khuzestan water buffaloes. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 60 buffaloes from the Khuzestan province, Iran. Using the PCR-RFLP technique, the amplified and digested fragments of GH/AluI, GHR/AluI, GHRHR/ HaeIII, Pit1/HinfI, and KCN3/HindIII were genotyped. Results: All animals were monomorphic for GHRHR. The frequency of mutant alleles for GH, GHR, KCN3, and Pit1 was 47.5, 74.2, 49.2, and 51.7%, respectively. There were significant differences (p<0.0001) in the genotypic frequencies of GH, GHR, and Pit1 between high and low milk-yielding buffaloes. The GH (p=0.0002), GHR (p<0.0001) and Pit1 (p<0.0001) polymorphisms also had significant effects on body weight. Sequencing results revealed the presence of C496A, G495A, G498A and C1501T SNPs in the GH, and G1702T in the GHR gene of Khuzestan buffalos. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of GH, GHR, and Pit1 on milk production and body weight of Khuzestan buffaloes. The results suggest that devising an integrated breeding plan in Khuzestan water buffalos can considerably benefit from the very high diversity in candidate genes.Keywords: animal breeding, casein, genetic variation, growth hormone, milk production, SNP. ResumenAntecedentes: La información genética es necesaria para diseñar planes estratégicos con el objeto de mejorar el mérito genético de los búfalos. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de los polimorfismos genéticos en los genes GH, Pit-1, GHR, GHRHR y KCN3 sobre la producción láctea y peso corporal de búfalos de agua de la provincia de Juzestán, Iran. Métodos: Se recolectaron 60 muestras de sangre de búfalos de la provincia de Juzestán, en Irán. Los fragmentos amplificados y digeridos de GH/AluI, GHR/AluI, GHRHR/HaeIII, Pit1/HinfI y KCN3/HindIII fueron clasificados genotípicamente, utilizando la técnica PCR-RFLP. Resultados: Todos los animales fueron monomórficos para el gen GHRHR. La frecuencia alélica de alelos mutantes para los genes GH, GHR, KCN3 y Pit1 fue 47,5, 74,2, 49,2 y 51,7%, respectivamente. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0,0001) en las frecuencias genotípicas de GH, GHR y Pit1 entre búfalos de alta y baja producción. El efecto del polimorfismo GH (p=0,0002), GHR (p<0,0001) y Pit1 (p<0,0001) también fue significativo para peso corporal. Los resultados de la secuenciación revelaron la presencia de SNPs C496A, G495A, G498A y C1501T en GH, y G1702T en el gen GHR. Conclusiones: Este estudio resalta la importancia de los genes GH, GHR y Pit1 sobre la producción de leche y el peso corporal de búfalos de Juzestán. Los resultados sugieren que la elaboración de un plan de cruzamiento integrado en búfalos de agua de Juzestán puede beneficiarse considerablemente de la gran diversidad de genes candidatos.Palabras clave: caseína, hormona del crecimiento, producción de leche, reproducción animal, SNP, variación genética. ResumoAntecedentes: Determinação informações genéticas é o passo crítico para elaborar planos estratégicos com o objetivo de melhorar o mérito genético dos búfalos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de polimorfismos genéticos nos genes GH, Pit-1, GHR, GHRHR e KCN3 na produção de leite e no peso corporal dos búfalos de água do Cuzistão, Irã. Métodos: Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 60 búfalos da província de Cuzistão, no Irã. Utilizando a técnica PCR-RFLP, os fragmentos amplificados e digeridos de GH/AluI, GHR/AluI, GHRHR/HaeIII, Pit1/HinfI e KCN3/HindIII foram genotipados. Resultados: Todos os animais eram monomórficos para o gene GHRHR. A freqüência alélica de alelos mutantes para os genes GH, GHR, KCN3 e Pit1 foi 47,5, 74,2, 49,2 e 51,7%, respectivamente. Uma diferença significativa (p<0,0001) foi encontrada nas freqüências genotípicas de os genes GH, GHR e Pit1 entre búfalos de alta e baixa produção. O efeito do polimorfismo GH (p=0,0002), GHR (p<0,0001) e Pit1 (p<0,0001) também foi significativo para o peso corporal. Os resultados da sequenciação revelaram a presença de SNPs C496A, G495A, G498A e C1501T no GH, e G1702T no gene GHR dos buffalos do Cuzistão. Conclusões: Este estudo destacou a importância da GH, GHR e Pit1 na produção de leite e no peso corporal de buffalos do Cuzistão. Os resultados sugerem que a elaboração de um plano de melhoramiento genético integrado em búfalos de água do Cuzistão pode beneficiar consideravelmente da grande diversidade de genes candidatos.Palavras-chave: caseína, hormônio do crescimento, produção de leite, reprodução animal, SNP, variação genética.

Introduction: Identifying the risk factors of obesity as a problem facing communities is crucial given its complexity. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been reported as a candidate for this disease in literature. Objective: To investigate the association of ApaI, BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms of VDR gene with obesity in part of Iranian population. Material and methods: In this study, genotypes of 348 obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and 320 non-obese (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) were analyzed by using PCR-RFLP method. The levels of FBS, TG, Total Cholesterol, HDL- Cholesterol and LDL- Cholesterol were measured by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: The present findings showed significantly higher BMI, FBS and TG in the obese group compared to in the controls. In the obese individuals, the frequency of genotype AA was 47.1% and that of combined genotype Aa+aa 52.9%, whereas these figures were respectively 30% and 70% in the controls [P=0.024, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.100-3.933, odds ratio (OR)=2.08]. The frequencies of A and a alleles for the ApaI polymorphism were statistically significant in the two groups (allele A vs. a, P=0.017). No significant relationships were also observed between TaqI genotypes and alleles in the controls and obese subjects. Conclusion: The present study found VDR ApaI (rs7975232 C/A) polymorphism appeared to be a risk factor for obesity. In particular, A allele and genotype of AA in ApaI were associated with the obesity phenotypes.

DNA uptake in the post-acrosomal region of the spermatozoa takes place exclusively in immotile spermatozoa that are naturally unable to fertilize eggs. The present study aimed to assess whether passive transmission of non-viral vectors to the surrounding areas of chicken embryos could be an alternate mechanism in chicken sperm-mediated gene transfer. First, the presence of nucleases in rooster seminal plasma was evaluated. Semen ejaculates from five roosters were centrifuged and the supernatant was incubated with pBL2 for 1 h. A robust nuclease cocktail was detected in the rooster semen. To overcome these nucleases, plasmid-TransIT combinations were incubated with semen for 1 h. Incubation of exogenous DNA in the lipoplex structure could considerably bypass the semen nuclease effect. Then, intravaginal insemination of 1 × 109 sperm mixed with lipoplexes (40 µg pBL2:40 µl TransIT) was carried out in 15 virgin hens. Neither the epithelial tissue from the inseminated female reproductive tracts nor the produced embryos following artificial insemination showed the transgene. To remove any bias in the transgene transmission possibility, the plasmid-TransIT admixture was directly injected in close vicinity of the embryos in newly laid eggs. Nonetheless, none of the produced fetuses or chicks carried the transgene. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed a nuclease admixture in rooster seminal plasma, and passive/active transmission of the non-viral vector into close vicinity of the chicken embryo was inefficient for producing transgenic chicks.

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