Genetic Polymorphism of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene (ESRα) and Its Effect on Production and Biochemical Traits of White Quails

Abstract

This study was conducted in the poultry field of Animal Production Department - College of Agriculture - University of Kirkuk for the period from 28/3/2022 to 15/1/2023, to determine the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of alpha estrogen receptor gene (ESRα) and evaluation of some productive and biochemical traits of white Japanese quail, One-day-old quails were obtained from Animal Production Department - College of Agriculture, and they were reared for 35 days until reaching age of sexual maturity. Then they were randomly distributed to 30 families, with male and female for each family. The birds were fed on a diet with 20% crude protein and 2850 k.cal/kg metabolism energy of feed. At the end of the experiment, the female of each family was slaughtered and DNA was extracted from liver by using kit to determine the polymorphism of the length restriction fragment (RFLP) for estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESRα) and evaluation of some productive and biochemical traits by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and the use of the restriction enzyme (EcoRI) and electrophoresis to determine the length of bundles of ESRα gene. The results of the study showed that the CC genotype resulting from the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of estrogen receptor alpha (ESRα) gene had a significant effect on egg production of white Japanese quail compared with CT and TT genotypes, and CC and TT genotypes were superior to CT genotypes in estrogen level, while CC and CT genotypes were superior to the TT genotype in glucose level in blood serum of female white Japanese quail. The study recommended to selection CC and TT genotypes of estrogen receptor alpha (ESRα) gene because it is positively and significantly associated with egg production of white Japanese quail.