Abstract

Polymorphisms in major gene effect related to reproductive activity have been described in sheep. Mutations located in the GDF9 gene have been associated with increased ovulation rate and litter size. GDF9 factor is secreted by the oocyte and is a member of the family of transforming growth factors (TGF-β) located on chromosome 5. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of polymorphic regions (G1 and G8) in the GDF9 gene in Araucano creole sheep. DNA was extracted from 100 blood samples and the presence of mutations was determinated using PCR-RFLP. Two regions were amplified, one corresponding to exon 1 of 462 bp digested with restriction enzyme HhaI and a 139bp fragment corresponding to exon 2 digested with enzyme DdeI. The presence of polymorphisms in G1 of GDF9 gene were detected with a genotype frequency of 0.56 (genotype GG), 0.44 (genotype GA) and an allele frequency of 0.78 for the allele (G) and 0.22 for the allele (A). No polymorphisms were detected in G8. This is the first report of this polymorphism in sheep in Chile that could serve as a genetic marker for marker for prolificacy selection in the the Araucano creole sheep.