Association of growth trait and Leptin gene polymorphism in Kermani sheep

Identification of genes affecting energy balance, milk yield and feed intake is an interesting area of researches in animal breeding. Leptin gene polymorphism is associated with key economic affair. Considering rich resources for animals, in our country, accomplishing a few assays to identify a gene that controls her traits with molecular genetics, and identifying the candidate genes in sheep breeds using DNA test can greatly help to her breeding progress. For analyzing Leptin gene polymorphism and its association with growth traits in Kermani sheep, blood samples of 120 sheep of both genes rearing at breeding centre of Shahre Babak were taken. In addition growth traits were measured. PCR was performed to amplify 275 bp fragments of exon 3 from Leptin gene. Then Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) of PCR product was performed and Leptin band patterns (genotypes) were obtained using acrylamid gel and silver staining. For Leptin gene 10 genotypes including A/A, C/C, A/B, A/C, A/B/C, A/B/E, A/B/F, A/C/F, A/B/D/E and A/B/C/F were obtained. The results of this study showed that the growth traits are significantly affected by the genotypes. Accordingly, A/B/E, A/C, A/B/C/F and A/B/C/F genotypes had higher body weight at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of ages respectively. The animals with A/B, A/B, A/B/F and A/B/D/E genotypes had the smallest body weight at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of ages respectively. It is suggested that polymorphism in Leptin gene loci can be used as a selective criterion to improve growth traits in Kermani sheep.