Expression Analysis of BMPR1B, BMP15, GDF9, Smad1, Smad5, and Smad9 in Rams with Different Fecundity.

To elucidate the tissue expression levels of BMPR1B, BMP15, GDF9, Smad1, Smad5, and Smad9 genes in rams with different fecundity, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the expression level of six genes in the brain, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary, testis, epididymis, vas deferens, and adrenal gland in high fecundity (Small Tail Han sheep) and low fecundity (Sunite sheep) rams. The results were as follows: BMPR1B, GDF9, Smad1, Smad5 and Smad9 were expressed in all selected tissues, but BMP15 was specifically expressed in the epididymis. Further study indicated that the expression of BMPRIB in the brain, hypothalamus, pituitary, epididymis, and adrenal gland was significantly higher in Sunite sheep than in Small Tail Han sheep (p < 0.05, p < 0.01); the expression of BMP15 in the epididymis was significantly higher in Sunite sheep than in Small Tail Han sheep (p < 0.01); the expression of GDF9 in the cerebellum and vas deferens was significantly higher in Small Tail Han sheep than in Sunite sheep (p < 0.05); the expression of GDF9 in the adrenal gland was significantly higher in Sunite sheep than in Small Tail Han sheep (p < 0.01); the expression of Smad1 in the brain and adrenal gland was significantly higher in Small Tail Han sheep than in Sunite sheep (p < 0.05); the expression of Smad1 in vas deferens was significantly higher in Sunite sheep than in Small Tail Han sheep (p < 0.01); the expression of Smad5 in the adrenal gland was significantly higher in Small Tail Han sheep than in Sunite sheep (p < 0.05); the expression of Smad9 in the brain and epididymis was significantly higher in Sunite sheep than in Small Tail Han sheep (p < 0.05, p < 0.01); and the expression of Smad9 in the cerebellum and hypothalamus was significantly higher in Small Tail Han sheep than in Sunite sheep (p < 0.05). This is the first study to systematically analyze the BMPR1B, BMP15, GDF9, Smad1, Smad5, and Smad9 genes’ tissue expression pattern in rams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]