Genetic Variation of the IGF1 and OPN Genes in Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cattle of Historical and Non-Historical Twins

Abstract

The application of DNA molecular techniques can be used to determine the mutation cases at DNA fragments associated with fertility traits in cattle. This study was aimed to identify genetic variants of Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) and Osteopontin (OPN) genes to be considered as candidate genes controlling fertility traits in HF cattle of historical twins (27 heads) and non historical twins (15 heads) from West Java, Indonesia. Historically twinning cattle was defined as either the cows ever calved twins (more) or their offspring (female and males). Investigation of genetic variants was done by applying PCR-RFLP method by using restriction enzyme of SnaB1 for The IGF-1 gene and Bsr1 for the OPN gene. Amplification produced DNA products of 249 bp (IGF-1 intron-1) and 290 bp (OPN intron-4). Genotyping on the IGF-1 gene locus Snab1 produced only one DNA fragment, meaning all the cows having the BB genotype (249 bp). Monomorphic of the IGF-1 gene was probably due to no mutation (C/T) at the nucleotide as a cutting site. Instead, it was discovered genetic variants of the OPN gene locus Bsr1, resulting three DNA banding patterns, these genotypes were successively CC (200 and 90 bp), CT (290, 200, 90 bp) and TT (290 bp). The proportion of CC, CT and TT genotypes in historical twinning cattle (30%: 56%: 14%) differed to those of non historical twinning one (20%: 40%: 40%). Former cattle had the amount of CC and CT genotypes higher than the latter uterine milk uterus fertility for embryo growth in HF dairy cows observed.