A genome scan for quantitative trait loci affecting male reproductive traits in a White Duroc × Chinese Erhualian resource population1

Abstract

Chinese Erhualian boars have dramatically smaller testes, greater concentrations of circulating androgens, and fewer Sertoli cells than Western commercial breeds. To identify QTL for boar reproductive traits, testicular weight, epididymal weight, seminiferous tubular diameter at 90 and 300 d, and serum testosterone concentration at 300 d were measured in 347 F(2) boars from a White Duroc x Chinese Erhualian cross. A whole genome scan was performed with 183 microsatellites covering 19 porcine chromosomes. A total of 16 QTL were identified on 9 chromosomes, including 1% genome-wide significant QTL for testicular weight at 90 and 300 d and seminiferous tubular diameter at 90 d on SSCX, and for epididymal weight and testosterone concentration at 300 d on SSC7. Two 5% genome-wide significant QTL were detected for testicular weight at 300 d on SSC1 and seminiferous tubular diameter at 300 d on SSC16. Nine suggestive QTL were found on SSC1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 13, and 14. Chinese Erhualian alleles were not systematically favorable for greater reproductive performance. This study confirmed the previous significant QTL for testicular weight on SSCX and for epididymal weight on SSC7, and reported QTL for seminiferous tubular diameter and testosterone concentration at the first time. The observed different QTL for the same trait at different ages reflect the involvement of distinct genes in the development of male reproductive traits.

A genome scan for loci affecting adipocyte size and number in abdominal fat in a White Duroc × Erhualian F2 resource population

“…A three-generation F 2 population was established by a cross between Chinese Erhualian and White Duroc pigs as described in Ren et al (2008). Briefly, two White Duroc boars and 17 Erhualian sows were mated to produce F 1 pigs, from which nine F 1 males and 59 F 1 females were intercrossed to produce six batches of 1912 F 2 pigs.…”

“…The information content of each marker was more than 0.5. As described previously (Ren et al, 2008), amplification condition for each marker locus was optimized by using standard protocols. After amplifications with primers labeled by fluorescent dyes (NED, FAM or HEX), genotype data were recorded and collected in an ABI PRISM R 3130XL genetic analyzer with GeneMapper TM Genotyping version 3.7 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA).…”

Preliminary study of FMO1, FMO5, CYP21, ESR1, PLIN2 and SULT2A1 as candidate gene for compounds related to boar taint

“…In the current study, a suggestive (P b 0.07) association is found with skatole level. ESR1 is located on SSC1p24-25 which is evidence of harbouring several QTL for sperm count and sperm motility (Ren et al, 2009). ESR1 is reported to be a promising candidate gene for boar sperm quality and fertility (Gunawan et al, 2011) and is genetically related to androstenone (Grindflek et al, 2010).…”

Association of Porcine Heparanase and Hyaluronidase 1 and 2 with Reproductive and Production Traits in a Landrace–Duroc–Yorkshire Population

“…Within proximity to the HYAL genes, several QTL have been identified with implications to reproductive traits in swine (Hu et al, 2007). Two ovulation rate QTL (Rathje et al, 1997; Bidanel et al, 2008), an age at puberty QTL (Bidanel et al, 2008), and most recently a QTL for testosterone levels (Ren et al, 2009) have been reported in the same region on SSC13. Interestingly, a SNP within HYAL2 was associated with levels of testosterone and androstenone in Norwegian Landrace boars (Moe et al, 2009).…”