ASSOCIATIONS OF POLYMORPHISMS IN THE PROLACTIN RECEPTOR GENE WITH GROWTH TRAIT IN JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Prolactin receptor (PRLR), as an important regulatory gene about growth and differentiation, might be a condition gene for reproductive traits. The prolactin receptor is a specific receptor for prolactin (PRL), which is an anterior pituitary peptide hormone involved in various physiological activities and is essential for reproductive improvement. In chickens, the PRLR gene is on the Z chromosome. In the present study, the polymorphism of exon 2 of PRLR gene in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnixjaponica) was investigated. Blood samples of 180 Japanese Quail were collected randomly. DNA was extracted from blood samples and amplified. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of the exon 2 of PRLR gene. PCR-SSCP analysis of the exon 2 region revealed two banding patterns. Two different SSCP patterns, representing two different genotypes, were identified. The frequencies of the observed genotypes were 0.939 and 0.061 for AA and BB. Allele frequencies were 0.939 and 0.061 for A and B. Observed heterozygosity (Hobs) value was 0.0. The chi-square test showed significant (P<0.05) deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for this locus in studied population. The effect of these genotypes on weight gain was investigated, and the BB genotype was found to be associated with body weight at 46 days. This was the first study on polymorphism of PRLR gene in Japanese quail.