Screening for FecGH Mutation of Growth Differentiation Factor 9 Gene in Iranian Ghezel Sheep Population

Background: Ghezel sheep are highly prolific and one of the local sheep breeds in Iran and Turkey. Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) gene has been found to be essential for growth and differentiation of early ovarian follicles. Novel mutations in GDF9 have been associated with increased ovulation rates and high litter sizes in heterozygous carriers. Therefore, fecundity gene for GDF9 (FecGH) mutation in GDF9 is considered as a possible candidate for the increased litter size observed in Ghezel ewes. Materials and Methods: The aim was to evaluate the frequency of recently reported SNP (FecGH) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in 110 Ghezel ewes with a history of high litter size reproductive activity and 75 fertile ewes with normal reproductive activity. Results: The GDF9 gene exon II was investigated by this technique to screen whether they are FecGH (S395F) carriers or not. SSCP analysis identified four fragments that contained conformational differences; however the combined results with sequencing analysis data did not reveal the FecGH mutation (C to T) in GDF9 gene in Iranian Ghezel ewes. Conclusion: Current results confirmed that FecGH mutation is not present in the selected Iranian Ghezel sheep population and is not associated with Ghezel sheep high prolificacy performance. Therefore, this SNP may not represent a molecular marker for marker assisted selection programs in this population.