Expression analysis of the NR5A2 gene and associations between its polymorphisms and reproductive traits in Jiaxing Black sows

ABSTRACT

This study’s aim was to detect NR5A2 expression and explore association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the NR5A2 gene with reproductive traits in Jiaxing Black (JXB) sows. The expression analysis showed that the expression level of pig NR5A2 mRNA in the ovary and liver was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to other tissues. 10 SNPs were detected in the exons of NR5A2, and five SNPs (g.136706A > T, g.84609G > A, g.136759G > C, g.138802T > C, g.138864A > G) met Hardy Weinberg equilibrium conditions. The total number of piglets born (TBA) and number of still born piglets (NSB) of sows with GG genotype at the g.136759G > C loci were higher than the CC genotype (P < 0.05). For the g.138864A > G loci, individuals with the AA genotype had significantly higher TBA than those of sows with the AG genotype (P < 0.05). By combining genotypes, it was found that the H7H8 diplotype had the best TBA performance. Moreover, the g.138864A > G and g.136759G > C loci had significant effects on the NR5A2 mRNA expression level in the ovary. The above results indicated that SNPs within NR5A2 exons of the NR5A2 gene have a certain effect on the reproductive traits of JXB pigs.

KEYWORDS:

• Jiaxing Black pig
• NR5A2
• reproductive traits
• SNP

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Program of Zhejiang Provincial Agricultural Major Technology Cooperative Extension Program [grant number: 2021XTTGXM02-02]; Program of Breeding of Agricultural New Species (Livestock and Poultry) in Zhejiang [grant number: 2016C02054-3]; Program of Breeding of Agricultural New Species (Livestock and Poultry) in Zhejiang [2021C02068-2].