Abstract: Chicken Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (VLDLR) is a physiological candidate gene for reproductive traits. The objective of the current research was to investigate the association of VLDLR Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and the reproductive traits in a Chinese Indigenous chicken breed (Wenshang Luhua chicken). A total of 528 individuals were genotyped with PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). As a result, an A→G mutation on exon 6 (A12321G) and an A→G mutation on intron 17 (A13876G) were identified. In locus 12321, genotypes have significantly effect on Egg Weight at 300 days (EW) and the chickens harboring genotype A2A2 had significantly higher EW (p<0.05) than that of A1A1 chickens. Also the Egg Weight at First Egg (EWFE) and Egg Production at 300 days (EP) values of A2A2 chickens were higher than A1A1 chickens and A2A2 chickens had lower Living Weight at First Egg (LWFE), Living Weight at 300 days (LW) and Age at First Egg (AFE) than A1A1 chickens. In locus 13876, genotypes had significantly effect on EW (p<0.05). The EW values of B2B2 chickens were significantly higher than B1B1 chickens (p<0.05). For LWFE, LW and EP, B2B2 chickens were superior to B1B1 chickens but no significant difference between them (p>0.05). Four diplotypes were constructed on the two SNPs. Significantly dominant effects of diplotypes H1H1 were observed for traits EW whereas H4H4 had a negative effect on it. Also for EWFE, LWFE, LW and EP, the H1H1 chickens were superior to H4H4 chickens it maybe tell that H1H1 is an advantaged diplotype for chicken reproductive traits.
D.G. Cao, Y. Zhou, Q.X. Lei, H.X. Han, F.W. Li, G.M. Li, Y. Lu, B. Wu and Z.L. Wang, 2012. Associations of Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (VLDLR) Gene Polymorphisms with Reproductive Traits in a Chinese Indigenous Chicken Breed. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 3662-3667.