Novel genetic markers of the carbonic anhydrase II gene associated with egg production and reproduction traits in Tsaiya ducks

Genome-Wide Association Studies and Haplotype-Sharing Analysis Targeting the Egg Production Traits in Shaoxing Duck

Age at first egg (AFE) and egg number (EN) are economically important traits related to egg production, as they directly influence the benefits of the poultry industry, but the molecular genetic research that affects those traits in laying ducks is still sparse. Our objective was to identify the genomic regions and candidate genes associated with AFE, egg production at 43 weeks (EP43w), and egg production at 66 weeks (EP66w) in a Shaoxing duck population using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and haplotype-sharing analysis. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic parameter estimates showed that the heritability was 0.15, 0.20, and 0.22 for AFE, EP43w, and EP66w, respectively. Subsequently, three univariate GWASs for AFE, EP43w, and EP66w were carried out independently. Twenty-four SNPs located on chromosome 25 within a 0.01-Mb region that spans from 4.511 to 4.521 Mb were associated with AFE. There are two CIs that affect EP43w, i.e., twenty-five SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium region spanning from 3.186 to 3.247 Mb on chromosome 25, a region spanning from 4.442 to 4.446 Mb on chromosome 25, and two interesting genes, ACAD8 and THYN1, that may affect EP43w in laying ducks. There are also two CIs that affect EP66w, i.e., a 2.412-Mb region that spans from 127.497 to 129.910 Mb on chromosome 2 and a 0.355-Mb region that spans from 4.481 to 4.837 Mb on chromosome 29, and CA2 and GAMT may be the putative candidate genes. Our study also found some haplotypes significantly associated with these three traits based on haplotype-sharing analysis. Overall, this study was the first publication of GWAS on egg production in laying ducks, and our findings will be helpful to provide some candidate genes and haplotypes to improve egg production performance based on breeding in laying duck. Additionally, we learned from a method called bootstrap test to verify the reliability of a GWAS with small experimental samples that users can access at https://github.com/xuwenwu24/Bootstrap-test.

Selection for Duration of Fertility and Mule Duck White Plumage Colour in a Synthetic Strain of Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie (h (2) = 0.07±0.03) and M (h (2) = 0.07±0.01), moderately low for Dm (h (2) = 0.13±0.02), of medium values for H (h (2) = 0.20±0.03) and F (h (2) = 0.23±0.03). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm (rg = 0.93), between F and H (rg = 0.97) and between Dm and H (rg = 0.90). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings' feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

A replication study for genome-wide gene expression levels in two layer lines elucidates differentially expressed genes of pathways involved in bone remodeling and immune responsiveness

The current replication study confirmed significant differences in gene expression profiles of the cerebrum among the two commercial layer lines Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) and Lohmann Brown (LB). Microarray analyses were performed for 30 LSL and another 30 LB laying hens kept in the small group housing system Eurovent German. A total of 14,103 microarray probe sets using customized Affymetrix ChiGene-1_0-st Arrays with 20,399 probe sets were differentially expressed among the two layer lines LSL and LB (FDR adjusted P-value <0.05). An at least 2-fold change in expression levels could be observed for 388 of these probe sets. In LSL, 214 of the 388 probe sets were down- and 174 were up-regulated and vice versa for the LB layer line. Among the 174 up-regulated probe sets in LSL, we identified 51 significantly enriched Gene ontology (GO) terms of the biological process category. A total of 63 enriched GO-terms could be identified for the 214 down-regulated probe sets of the layer line LSL. We identified nine genes significantly differentially expressed between the two layer lines in both microarray experiments. These genes play a crucial role in protection of neuronal cells from oxidative stress, bone mineral density and immune response among the two layer lines LSL and LB. Thus, the different regulation of these genes may significantly contribute to phenotypic trait differences among these layer lines. In conclusion, these novel findings provide a basis for further research to improve animal welfare in laying hens and these layer lines may be of general interest as an animal model.

The characteristics of oviposition and hormonal and gene regulation of ovarian follicle development in Magang geese

BACKGROUND

Egg laying in Magang geese is characterized by extended interruption between clutches and lowing laying rate. Both the ovarian follicular development and ovulation characteristics, and the associated endocrine and molecular regulatory mechanisms involved are poorly understood, but could be important for guiding development of molecule aided selection of egg laying performances in geese. This study, therefore, recorded egg-laying characteristics of Magang geese, and the endocrine and molecular regulatory mechanisms of ovarian follicular development, maturation, and ovulation in Magang geese.

METHODS

Oviposition, ovarian follicle development, and reproductive hormone and gene expression profiles were observed in a small flock of Magang geese.

RESULTS

Greater than 73% of eggs were laid during the day. The average oviposition interval was 46.8 h (36-55 h). It took approximately 18 days for large white follicles to develop into mature F1 follicles; follicular growth was exponential. LHR expression levels increased from the small to the large mature follicles, but FSHR expression decreased in the granulosa and thecal layers. As the follicles matured, inhibin alpha and inhibin betaA expression increased in the granulosa layer. Activin IR, activin IIRA, activin IIRB, and beta-glycan expressions also increased as the follicles increased in size, but were more abundantly expressed in the thecal than in the granulosa layers. During the oviposition cycle, plasma concentrations of gonadal hormones decreased rapidly, whereas the level of PGFM peaked around ovulation. The profiles of activin, inhibin, follistatin, estradiol, and progesterone leading to ovulation were characterized.

CONCLUSIONS

The molecular and endocrine mechanisms that regulate follicular development in Magang geese are similar to those in chickens. Moreover, gonadotropin regulation and interaction between activin, inhibin, and follistatin secretion may govern 3-stage maturation in the final preovulatory follicles in Magang geese. The rapid rebound of post-ovulatory secretions of inhibin and follistatin may inhibit recruitment of new SYF recruitment once a sequence of eggs is started, and may limit the egg clutch size to no more than the number of LYFs present before the first sequence egg.