A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw
The use of frozen-thawed semen is an important reproduction tool to preserve the biodiversity of small, native horse breeds such as the Franches-Montagnes (FM). However, not all stallions produce cryotolerant semen with a progressive motility after thaw ≥ 35%. To improve our understanding of the gen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/10/1501 |
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| author | Annik Imogen Gmel Dominik Burger Markus Neuditschko |
| author_facet | Annik Imogen Gmel Dominik Burger Markus Neuditschko |
| author_sort | Annik Imogen Gmel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of frozen-thawed semen is an important reproduction tool to preserve the biodiversity of small, native horse breeds such as the Franches-Montagnes (FM). However, not all stallions produce cryotolerant semen with a progressive motility after thaw ≥ 35%. To improve our understanding of the genetic background of male fertility traits in both fresh and frozen-thawed semen, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on gel-free volume, sperm cell concentration, total sperm count, and progressive motility in fresh and frozen-thawed semen from 109 FM stallions using 335,494 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We identified one significant (<i>p</i> < 1.69 × 10<sup>−7</sup>) quantitative trait locus (QTL) on ECA6 within the <i>SCN8A</i> gene for progressive motility after thaw, which was previously associated with progressive motility in boars. Homozygous stallions showed a substantial drop in progressive motility after thaw. This QTL could be used to identify cryointolerant stallions, avoiding the costly cryopreservation process. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this QTL is also present in other horse breeds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:32:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e8624d0478d4e52bf78dfaef436dd52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:32:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e8624d0478d4e52bf78dfaef436dd522023-11-22T18:20:55ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252021-09-011210150110.3390/genes12101501A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after ThawAnnik Imogen Gmel0Dominik Burger1Markus Neuditschko2Animal GenoPhenomics, Agroscope, Route de la Tioleyre 4, 1725 Posieux, SwitzerlandSwiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Agroscope and University of Bern, Les Longs Prés, 1580 Avenches, SwitzerlandAnimal GenoPhenomics, Agroscope, Route de la Tioleyre 4, 1725 Posieux, SwitzerlandThe use of frozen-thawed semen is an important reproduction tool to preserve the biodiversity of small, native horse breeds such as the Franches-Montagnes (FM). However, not all stallions produce cryotolerant semen with a progressive motility after thaw ≥ 35%. To improve our understanding of the genetic background of male fertility traits in both fresh and frozen-thawed semen, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on gel-free volume, sperm cell concentration, total sperm count, and progressive motility in fresh and frozen-thawed semen from 109 FM stallions using 335,494 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We identified one significant (<i>p</i> < 1.69 × 10<sup>−7</sup>) quantitative trait locus (QTL) on ECA6 within the <i>SCN8A</i> gene for progressive motility after thaw, which was previously associated with progressive motility in boars. Homozygous stallions showed a substantial drop in progressive motility after thaw. This QTL could be used to identify cryointolerant stallions, avoiding the costly cryopreservation process. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this QTL is also present in other horse breeds.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/10/1501fertilitystallionsingle nucleotide polymorphismsemen qualitygenome-wide heritability |
| spellingShingle | Annik Imogen Gmel Dominik Burger Markus Neuditschko A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw Genes fertility stallion single nucleotide polymorphism semen quality genome-wide heritability |
| title | A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw |
| title_full | A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw |
| title_fullStr | A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw |
| title_short | A Novel QTL and a Candidate Gene Are Associated with the Progressive Motility of Franches-Montagnes Stallion Spermatozoa after Thaw |
| title_sort | novel qtl and a candidate gene are associated with the progressive motility of franches montagnes stallion spermatozoa after thaw |
| topic | fertility stallion single nucleotide polymorphism semen quality genome-wide heritability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/10/1501 |
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