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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Livestock Behavior Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #79240
Title: PHYSICAL AND GENETIC LOCALIZATION OF THE BOVINE CANNABINOID RECEPTOR (CNR1)GENE TO BOVINE CHROMOSOME 9

Author
item PFISTER GENSKOW, MARTHA - AMERICAN BREEDERS SERVICE
item Weesner, Gary
item HAYES, H - INRA-CRJ-FRANCE
item EGGEN, A - INRA-CRJ,FRANCE
item BISHOP, M - AMERICAN BREEDERS SERVICE

Submitted to: Mammalian Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Animals have chemical pathways in their brains which are involved in their response to stress. One of these pathways may be the cannabinoid receptor pathway. Cattle produce chemicals in their brains that will stimulate these receptors. Stimulation of this pathway has been shown to be associated with behavioral and hormonal changes in cattle, including sedation and the release of stress hormones. It is likely that there are genetic differences among cattle that determine how active this pathway is and how many receptors are present. We have found the location of the gene responsible for the cannabinoid receptor in the cow (chromosome 9). This information will allow us to determine what other important genes are located near the cannabinoid receptor gene, and will serve as a possible selection tool for traits of economic importance. Additionally, we may gain a better understanding of the genetic basis for some animal behaviors and stress-response mechanisms.

Technical Abstract: The cannabinoid receptor in the bovine brain likely is involved with several biological processes and behaviors including feeding behavior, pain perception, and physiological responses to stressors. However, relatively little is known about the gene for this receptor. The objective of this study was to find the location of this gene on the bovine chromosome. A bovine YAC library was screened by PCR using two cannabinoid receptor primers. Fluorescence IN SITU hybridization showed that the gene for the cannabinoid receptor is located on bovine chromosome 9q22. The genetic mapping of this receptor by IN SITU localization adds to the coverage of the bovine genome map and may contribute to a better understanding of mammalian gene mapping and the inheritance pattern of this receptor.