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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 #271699
Title: Polymorphism within thyroid hormone responsive (THRSP) associated with weaning-to-oestrus interval in swine

Author
item Rempel, Lea
item Nonneman, Danny - Dan
item Rohrer, Gary

Submitted to: Animal Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2011
Publication Date: 6/1/2012
Citation: Rempel, L.A., Nonneman, D.J., Rohrer, G.A. 2012. Polymorphism within thyroid hormone responsive (THRSP) associated with weaning-to-oestrus interval in swine. Animal Genetics. 43(3):364-365.

Interpretive Summary: Energetic demands associated with late pregnancy and lactation influence fat synthesis in swine. Excessive fat accumulation or reduction has been linked to reproductive performance in several species. The purpose of the current study was to investigate variation in the DNA sequence within four candidate genes known to have a direct or indirect relationship with fatness in swine. Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART), Thyroid Hormone Responsive Protein (THRSP), Transmembrane Protein 97 (TMEM97), and Liver Receptor Homolog-1 (LRH-1; aka NR5A2) were sequenced for changes in DNA. Subsequent detection of these modifications in individual animals followed by association analyses for relationship to age at puberty, ovulation rate, and weaning-to-estrus interval yielded five markers that had a tentative association with weaning-to-estrus interval. Of these five markers, only one maintained significant association after stringent testing. These data provide evidence for polymorphisms within fat synthesis genes that could potentially be used to help identify females that would be more likely to maintain adequate lactation and remain in the breeding herd for a longer period of time.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess polymorphisms within lipogenic-related candidate genes for association with the reproductive traits; age at puberty (AP), ovulation rate (OR), and weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI). Variations within the anorectic gene Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) have been associated with obesity and energy expenditure within humans and may negatively regulate estradiol production from the ovary during dominant follicle selection. Thyroid Hormone Responsive Protein (THRSP) modulates fatty acid synthesis by regulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase, the first committed enzyme in fatty acid synthesis. Transmembrane Protein 97 (TMEM97) has tissue-specific expression with steroid biosynthesis genes and plays a role in cellular cholesterol metabolism. Liver Receptor Homolog -1 (LRH-1; aka NR5A2) regulates transcription of hepatic CYP7A17 and is essential for fertility via ovarian follicular growth and ovulation.