Expression of gonadotrophin subunit genes in sheep that were homozygous carriers and non-carriers of the Booroola fecundity gene FecB

Journal of Reproduction and Fertility
J S FlemingK P McNatty

Abstract

Homozygous carriers (BB) of the Booroola fecundity gene FecB are characterized by high plasma concentrations of immunoreactive or biologically active FSH and, to a lesser extent, of immunoreactive LH, relative to non-carriers (++). Bovine cDNA probes for the alpha gonadotrophin, FSH beta and LH beta genes were used to investigate FecB-specific differences in the mRNA species for the gonadotrophin subunits in pituitaries obtained from ++ and BB mid-luteal phase ovary-intact ewes, ovariectomized ewes and ovary-intact or ovariectomized ewes with hypothalamic-pituitary disconnection (HPD) given the same regimen of pulsatile GnRH. No FecB-specific differences in the number or size of mRNA transcripts detected by northern blotting were noted for any of these genes. Densitometry of the northern blots revealed no significant FecB-specific differences in the relative amounts of mRNA encoding alpha gonadotrophin, FSH beta or LH beta in the pituitaries from any of the experimental groups of ++ and BB sheep. Furthermore, there were no significant FecB-specific differences in the pituitary content of FSH or LH in these animals, despite significantly higher plasma concentrations of FSH in the ovary-intact and ovariectomized HPD groups. These...Continue Reading

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