Simultaneous identification and combined genotype effects analysis of pre-implantation protein 3 (prei3) and estrogen receptor (ESR) gene in pigs

A method allowing simultaneous genotyping of two loci: pre-implantation protein 3 (prei3) and estrogen receptor (ESR) was presented. In multiplex PCR amplification, two amplicons were simultaneously produced a 294 bp fragment of prei3 gene and a 121 bp fragment of ESR gene and were then subjected to “one-tube” restriction enzyme digestion with MspI and PvuII. A total of 92 sows from the 4th dam line of Chinese lean-type new lines (DIV line) and 98 gilts from Large White × Meishan (LW × M) F2 population were genotyped to demonstrate reliability, convenience and lower costs. Statistical analysis showed that no significant difference had been detected among three genotypes at individual locus; but, for second and subsequent litters in both the DIV line, total number of piglets born (TNB) and the number of piglets born alive (NBA) of TTBB and GGAB sows were significantly larger than those of TGBB animals (p < 0.05); and in LW × M F2 offspring, the uterine weight (UW) of TGAA gilts were heavier than those of TTAA gilts (p < 0.1), the length of oviduct (LO) of GGAB gilts were longer than those of GGBB gilts, and the weight of both ovaries (OW) of TGAB and GGAA gilts were significantly heavier than those of TGBB gilts (p < 0.1). Results here suggested that this method might be useful in the wide-scale genotyping of both loci in pig breeding programs.