The Variability of Growth Hormone Gene Associated with Ultrasound Imaging of Longissimus dorsi Muscle and Perirenal Fat in Rabbits

Abstract

Identification of genes in rabbits correlated to economic traits were intended to improve and develop their genetic quality. The objective of this research was to analyze the variability of growth hormone gene (GH) in three rabbit breeds, i.e. Rex, Satin, and Reza (Rex and Satin crosses) then was associated with ultrasound imaging of Longissimus dorsi muscle and perirenal fat thick-ness. Identification of the variability of growth hormone gene was analyzed using PCR RFLP tech-nique from blood samples of 33 mature male rabbits in Indonesian Research Institute for Animal Production (IRIAP). Thickness of Longissimus dorsi muscle and perirenal fat were imaged and measured by using ultrasound unit at 2nd to 3rd lumbar vertebrae in the left body side. PCR product of GH gene fragment (231 base pair /bp) was digested with restriction enzyme Bsh1236I. PCR-RFLP patterns were allele T resulted in an undigested fragment of 231 bp; allele C resulted in fragment of 169 bp and 62 bp. The result showed that Bsh1236I GH gene had three genotypes, i.e. CC, TT, and CT. There were signifficant association of Longissimus dorsi muscle thickness between rabbit breed (P<0.05). There was no significant association between GH Bsh1236I gene polymorphism and imaging ultrasound of Longissimus dorsi muscle and perirenal fat thickness. The association of characteristic genotype of GH|Bsh1236I gene with measurement phenotype was not significant, however it had potency as marker assisted selection (MAS)

Identifikasi gen yang berhubungan dengan sifat ekonomis sangat diperlukan untuk perbaikan dan perkembangan kualitas genetik kelinci. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis keragaman gen hormon pertumbuhan (GH) pada tiga bangsa kelinci, yaitu Rex, Satin dan Reza, yang selanjut-nya dihubungkan dengan pencitraan ultrasonografi ketebalan otot Longissimus dorsi dan lemak perirenal. Identifikasi keragaman gen GH menggunakan teknik PCR-RFLP sampel darah dari 33 ekor kelinci jantan dewasa di Balai Penelitian Ternak (BALITNAK). Ketebalan otot Longissimus dorsi dan lemak perirenal dicitrakan dan diukur menggunakan alat ultrasonografi pada posisi lumbar verte-brae ke 2 hingga ke 3 pada sisi kiri tubuh. Produk PCR dari fragmen gen GH (231 pasang basa/pb) dipotong dengan enzim pemotong Bsh1236I. Pola PCR-RFLP yang dihasilkan, yaitu alel T dihasilkan dari fragmen yang tidak terpotong dengan posisi 231 pb; alel C dihasilkan pada fragmen 169 pb dan 62 pb. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa gen GH|Bsh1236I memiliki tiga genotipe, yaitu CC, TT, dan CT. Bangsa kelinci berpengaruh terhadap pencitraan USG ketebalan otot Longissimus dorsi (P<0.05). Hubungan polimorfisme gen GH|Bsh1236I tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap hasil pencitraan USG ketebalan lemak perirenal dan otot Longissimus dorsi, namun demikian keragaman gen GH|Bsh1236I memiliki potensi untuk dijadikan marker assisted selection (MAS)