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Inhibin A (INHA) is a glycoprotein hormone which has a role in regulating the synthesis and secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone. In this paper, single nucleotide polymorphisms of 5' regulatory region and exon 1 of INHA gene were detected in one prolific goat breed (Jining Grey goat) and five low to medium fecundity breeds (Boer, Liaoning Cashmere, Wendeng Dairy, Taihang and Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats) by PCR-SSCP and sequencing methods. Its effects on litter size in Jining Grey goats were analyzed. Concerning primer P2, two genotypes (AA and Aa) were detected in Jining Grey, Liaoning Cashmere, Wendeng Dairy and Taihang goats. Sequencing revealed a G→-A transition at the 258th position of the amplified region in the genotype AA in comparison to the genotype Aa. For primer P4, two genotypes (BB and Bb) were identified in six goat breeds tested. Sequencing revealed a G→A transition at the 759th position of the amplified region in the genotype BB compared with Bb. Jining Grey goat does with genotype Bb had 0.79 (P<0.01) kids more than those with genotype BB. These results preliminarily showed that G841A of the INHA gene was a potential marker for improving litter size in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibin βB (INHBB) gene was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats. According to the sequence of bovine INHBB gene, two pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 2 of INHBB gene in high-prolificacy (Jining Grey) band low-prolificacy (Inner Mongolia Cashmere and Angora) goats by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism method. Only the amplified products of primer P2 showed polymorphism. Three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were identified in Jining Grey and two (AB and BB) in Inner Mongolia Cashmere and Angora goats. Sequencing revealed one single nucleotide mutation (A→G) at base 782 of exon 2 of INHBB gene in BB genotype compared to genotype AA. In Jining Grey goats the frequencies of A and B alleles were 0.318 and 0.682 while of AA, AB and BB genotypes reached 0.068, 0.500 and 0.432, respectively. The Jining Grey goats remained in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (chi-square = 3.36, P = 0.1861). These of genotype AA delivered by 0.73 (P<0.05) or 0.84 (P<0.05) kids more than those with genotype AB or BB, while does of genotype AB-- by 0.11 (P>0.05) kids more than did does of genotype BB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KISS-1 and GPR54 were regarded as key regulators for the puberty onset and fundamental gatekeepers of sexual maturation in mammals. To explore the possible association between variations in KISS-1 and GPR54 with sexual precocity, mutation screening of exon 1 of KISS-1 and exon 1, exon 3, and partial exon 5 of GPR54 was performed in a sexual precocious breed (Jining Grey goats) and sexual late-maturing breeds (Inner Mongolia Cashmere, Angora, and Boer goats) by PCR-SSCP. The results showed that five novel mutations were identified in exon 1 and partial exon 5 of GPR54 including C96 T, T173C, G176A, G825A, and C981 T. The Jining Grey goats with genotype BB or AB had 1.07 (P < 0.05) or 0.40 (P < 0.05) kids more than those with AA. The Jining Grey goats with genotype DD or CD had 1.80 (P < 0.05) or 0.55 (P < 0.05) kids more than CC, respectively. The present study preliminarily showed an association between alleles B and D of GPR54 with high litter size and sexual precocity in Jining Grey goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]