Association of <i>GH</i> Gene Polymorphism with Semen Parameters of Boars

Kmieć, M.; Terman, A.; Wierzbicki, H.; Zych, S.

doi:10.2754/avb200776010041

Acta Veterinaria > Archive > 2007, Vol. 76 > Issue 1 > Association of GH Gene…

Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: 41-46

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200776010041

Association of GH Gene Polymorphism with Semen Parameters of Boars

M. Kmieć¹, A. Terman¹, H. Wierzbicki², S. Zych¹

¹Agricultural University of Szczecin, Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Szczecin, Poland
²Agricultural University of Wroclaw, Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Wroclaw, Poland

Received November 25, 2005
Accepted September 5, 2006

Relations between polymorphism of the Growth Hormone gene and semen characters were analyzed. The DNA for the purpose of examination was isolated from the peripheral blood of 173 boars. In the boar herd under study the frequency of allele occurrence for the GH/MspI was as follows: allele GH^A - 0.79 and allele GH^B - 0.21. As far as the GH/HaeII polymorphism is concerned, the relevant frequency was as follows: allele GH^A - 0.53 and allele GH^B - 0.47, respectively. The relationship between the GH genotypes and semen characteristic traits were analyzed. The study showed that boars with GH^BGH^B genotype of both polymorphous loci of the GH gene produced ejaculates of larger volume, higher percentage, number of normozosperms in the ejaculate and number of insemination as compared to GH^A GH^A and GH^AGH^B boars. Our current findings suggested that polymorphism of the GH/MspI and GH/HaeII might have potential effect for reproductive performance traits of boars.