A comparative study of SINE insertion together with a mutation in the first intron of follicle stimulating hormone beta gene in indigenous pigs of India.

The Follicle stimulating hormone beta polypeptide (FSHβ) gene has been investigated as a candidate gene for litter size because of its role in maturation of small and medium follicles into ovulating large follicles. Genes coding follicle stimulating hormone have been found to have significant effects on litter size in pigs. The aim of the study was to investigate the polymorphism of the first intron of FSH-β gene present in Ghungroo, Niang Megha and Nagaland local pigs of India. PCR based short interspersed nuclear elements (SINE) detection method and PCR-RFLP were carried out to identify the polymorphism in FSHβ gene. Significantly higher frequencies of SINE-/- and SINE+/- genotypes were observed in Ghungroo pigs as compared to Niang Megha and Nagaland local pigs. PCR-RFLP study also showed higher frequency of T allele in all the three breeds even though there existed difference in genotypes among breeds. Association studies clearly demonstrated that SINE-/- genotypes have significantly higher litter size and weight at birth as well as at weaning. SINE -/- genotypes have higher number of live births too. Moderately high D' value indicates that haplotypic pattern within the two loci can be utilized for marker assisted selection for litter traits in pigs.