Abstract

Leptin is a 16 kDa protein synthesized by white adipose tissue and involved in regulation of feed intake, energy balance, fertility and immune function. In order to evaluate the leptin gene receptor polymorphism, we used a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Blood samples were collected from 100randomly chosen Mazandaran native fowls. Genomic DNA was extracted using modified salting-out method and amplified polymerase chain reaction technique. Exon and intron 9-11 of the fowl leptin gene receptor was amplified to produce a 382 bp fragment. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 1% agarose gel and stained by etidium bromide. Then, amplicons with Tsp509I were digested and revealed two alleles, A and B. Data were analysed using PopGene 32 package. In this population, AA, AB, BB genotype have been identified with the 69.14, 30.16 and 0.7% frequencies. A and B alleles frequencies were 0.84 and 0.16, respectively. χ²test did not show Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in this population (p<0.05). Further association analysis is required to clarify the effects of these marker genotypes on production traits in this breeder flock.

Key words: Leptin gene receptor, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR- RFLP), polymorphism, breeder hen.