FSHβ and FSHR Genes Polymorphisms and their Effect on Productive Performance in Barki Sheep

Abstract

This study investigated the association among polymorphisms in the follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSHβ) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genes and their relationship with lamb growth traits. The studied traits including birth weight (BW), weaning weight at three months of age (WW), and body weights at 6, 9, and 12 months (yearling) and productive performance (mature body weight of each ewe at first mating (MW), the total lamb birth weight per ewe (TLBW) and total lamb weaning weight per ewe (TLWW) across four breeding seasons) of Egyptian Barki sheep. A total number of 67 ewes and 89 lambs (44 males and 45 females) were evaluated across four consecutive breeding seasons (2020–2023). The PCR-RFLP technique was employed to detect the genotypic variations in the FSHβ and FSHR genes using ACCI (HinfI) and MSCI restriction enzymes, respectively. No polymorphism was observed in the FSHβ gene, indicating that this locus is monomorphic. In contrast, three distinct genotypic variants (AA, AB, and BB) were identified in the FSHR gene. Association analysis revealed no significant effect of FSHR polymorphism on ewes reproductive traits,
although ewes carrying the AA genotype showed slightly higher mature weight (MW) and total lamb birth weight (TLBW) than those with AB and BB genotypes. Conversely, the BB genotype was associated with increased total lamb weaning weight (TLWW). Moreover, the FSHR polymorphism exhibited a highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on lamb weaning weight at three months of age (WW), with BB genotype lambs averaging 16.90 kg, compared to 13.39 kg for the AA genotype. These results indicate that genetic variation in the FSHR genes may influence growth performance. Further investigations with larger sample size and additional molecular markers are warranted to elucidate the genetic mechanisms governing productive and growth traits in Barki sheep.