The association between the polymorphism in the myostatin gene and growth traits in Kamieniec and Pomeranian sheep breeds

The aim of the study was to identify polymorphisms in c.*1232 position and in the first intron of ovine myostatin gene (MSTN) in Kamieniec and Pomeranian sheep breeds and investigate the association between detected genotypes and selected growth traits. The studied material consisted of individuals of two sheep breeds: Kamieniec and Pomeranian. Tested animals were genotyped for the c.*1232G > A polymorphism in 3'UTR of MSTN, which revealed the presence of two alleles (A and G) and three resulting genotypes (AA, AG and GG) in both breeds. A 414-bp fragment of intron 1 was amplified and subjected to PCR-SSCP separation revealing seven distinctive genotypes and five alleles (MSTN-A-MSTN-E). The prevalence of different MSTN genotypes and alleles as well as their frequencies varied depending on sheep breed. Significant impact of c.*1232 genotypes was detected in regard to body weight at 56th day and daily gains only in Kamieniec sheep. Heterozygous animals were characterized by higher values for both measurements. Significant differences were found between MSTN-A/MSTN-B, MSTN-B/MSTN-B and MSTN-A/MSTN-A genotypes in terms of body weight at 56th day and daily gains only in Kamieniec group, with animals homozygous for MSTN-A allele characterized by the lowest values and for MSTN-B with the highest. No statistical effect of MSTN genotypes on growth traits was confirmed in Pomeranian sheep. The results show that the prevalence and effect of MSTN genotypes and alleles vary depending on sheep breed. Therefore, for some breeds MSTN gene may pose as a genetic marker for growth traits.