Moe Ijiri1, Yu-Chang Lai2, Hiroaki Kawaguchi3, Yoshikazu Fujimoto1,2, Naoki Miura1,2, Tomohide Matsuo1,2, Akihide Tanimoto4. 1. Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. 2. United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan. 3. Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan; k3038952@kadai.jp akit09@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp. 4. Department of Pathology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan k3038952@kadai.jp akit09@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The number of vertebrae in swine varies from 19 to 23 and is associated with body size. Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) is considered a strong candidate for affecting the number of vertebrae in swine. Wild boars, which uniformly have 19 vertebrae, have the wild type allele while multi-vertebrae European commercial pigs have the mutated allele. Our aim was to confirm the factor of the miniaturization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined vertebrae number and NR6A1 polymorphism in the Microminipig and three domestic breeds that vary in body size. RESULTS: The Microminipig had 19 or less vertebrae and a wild type NR6A1 genotype. Three domestic breeds had more than 21 vertebrae while the largest vertebrae number was observed in multi-vertebrae-fixed Large White. Heterozygous genotypes were observed in the middle-sized indigenous pig while homozygous NR6A1 mutations were observed in European commercial breeds. CONCLUSION: NR6A1 could be a useful index for both miniaturizing and increasing pig body size. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The number of vertebrae in swine varies from 19 to 23 and is associated with body size. Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) is considered a strong candidate for affecting the number of vertebrae in swine. Wild boars, which uniformly have 19 vertebrae, have the wild type allele while multi-vertebrae European commercial pigs have the mutated allele. Our aim was to confirm the factor of the miniaturization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined vertebrae number and NR6A1 polymorphism in the Microminipig and three domestic breeds that vary in body size. RESULTS: The Microminipig had 19 or less vertebrae and a wild type NR6A1 genotype. Three domestic breeds had more than 21 vertebrae while the largest vertebrae number was observed in multi-vertebrae-fixed Large White. Heterozygous genotypes were observed in the middle-sized indigenous pig while homozygous NR6A1 mutations were observed in European commercial breeds. CONCLUSION: NR6A1 could be a useful index for both miniaturizing and increasing pig body size. Copyright