Association of a PIT1 gene polymorphism with growth hormone mRNA levels in pig pituitary glands

Abstract

Fourty-six non-castrated, halothane-free, male Landrace pigs were genotyped by PCR-RFLP for the Rsa I polymorphism in the PIT1 gene and classified into AA and AB genotypes. Total RNA was extracted from the pituitaries and the relative quantities of growth hormone (GH) mRNA were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Pigs with the AB genotype had higher levels of GH mRNA than those with the AA genotype (p = 0.034; Kruskal-Wallis test). This result suggests that the Rsa I polymorphism may be involved in Pit-1 protein expression or function, which in turn may influence GH transcription and expression. Thus, the Rsa I PIT1 gene polymorphism in this pig line may be used as a molecular marker to identify higher GH expression and possibly select for carcass and performance traits affected by GH. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics.