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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #132816
Title: PLACENTAL WEIGHTS ARE GREATER IN GILTS HOMOZYGOUS FOR A SECRETED FOLATE BINDING PROTEIN (SFBP) GENE POLYMORPHISM

Author
item Vallet, Jeff
item Christenson, Ronald
item Freking, Bradley - Brad

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2002
Publication Date: 12/20/2002
Citation: Vallet, J.L., Christenson, R.K., Freking, B.A. 2002. Placental weights are greater in gilts homozygous for a secreted folate binding protein (sFBP) gene polymorphism [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 80(Supplement 1):300-301. (Abstract No. 1202)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Secreted FBP likely plays a role in the transfer of folate to the conceptus during pregnancy in swine. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) exists in the sFBP gene that encodes amino acid 175 as either a serine (C allele) or an arginine (A allele). Genomic DNAs from one-half Meishan, one-half white crossbred gilts were used as templates to amplify the region containing the SNP, and the products were sequenced for each gilt to determine the alleles present. The gilts were unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHO), mated, slaughtered on approximately d 105 of gestation, and litter size for each gilt and placental weights, fetal weights, fetal hematocrits, fetal plasma iron, and fetal plasma folates for each fetus were recorded. A subset of these gilts were mated, laparotomized on d 11, the remaining uterine horn was flushed, and the gilts were remated prior to obtaining the uterine capacity and fetal information described above at d 105. Conceptus diameters and total intrauterine acid phosphatase (tAP), retinol binding protein (tRBP), and sFBP were measured on d 11. Based on sequence analysis, gilts were divided into 3 genotypes: CC (n=87 total; 37 d 11), CA (n=11 total; 7 d 11), and AA (n=6 total; 4 d 11). Most of the measured traits did not differ between genotypes. Placental weights were greater (P<0.01); however, in AA gilts (202+/-20 g) compared to CC (153+/-5 g), and CA (156+/-16 g) gilts. Total sFBP was also greater (P<0.05) in AA gilts (13.5+/-3.1 ug) compared to CC (6.3+/-1.0 ug), and CA (7.0+/-2.3 ug) gilts. The results suggest that sFBP containing arginine at amino acid 175 is associated with large placentas, which may have an influence on litter size.