Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit and nuclear receptor coactivator 1 gene polymorphisms and expressions on pink-eyed white mink reproductive traits

The present study was designed to investigate comparative expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSH beta) and nuclear receptor coactivator 1 (NCOA1) genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction, using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism methods to investigate the effects of gene polymorphisms on reproductive traits, including total number of kits born (TNB) and number of born alive (NBA) in pink-eyed white mink. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the FSH beta and NCOA1 genes. The g.1228G>A polymorphism of FSH beta was associated with NBA and TNB (P < 0.01). The g.151536T>C polymorphism of NCOA1 was associated with NBA and TNB (P < 0.01). The NCOA1 mRNA levels in hypothalamus, ovary, and uterus during the first half of gestation were higher than during the middle term and last half of gestation (P < 0.01). The FSH beta mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and uterus were higher during the first half of gestation than during the middle term and last half of gestation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the g.1866T>C polymorphism of FSH beta and the g.151536T>C polymorphism of NCOA1 could be molecular markers for reproductive traits, and expressions of FSH beta and NCOA1 might be involved in the regulation of embryo attachment mechanisms in pink-eyed white mink breeding.