Polymorphism of the Myostatin (MSTN) Gene in Landes and Kielecka Geese Breeds.

Myostatin, also known as growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), belongs to the TGF-ß superfamily of proteins. MSTN is a highly conserved protein that acts as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Loss of myostatin functionality causes the phenotype to appear in the form of 'double musculature', among others in cattle, sheep, and house mice. The presented results of the research were carried out on two geese breeds-Landes and Kielecka. The aim of the study was to identify mutations in the MSTN gene and study their impact on body weight in both geese breeds in different periods of life. Analysis of the obtained results showed the existence of polymorphism in exon 3 (c.1231C>T) and suggested a possible association (p < 0.05) between BW and genotype in 12 weeks of life in male Kielecka geese breed. The identified polymorphism may be one of the factors important for improving body weight in the studied Kielecka breed, therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research on a larger population of geese breeds in order to more accurately estimate the effect of the identified SNP c.1231C>T on BW in geese.

Mapping quantitative trait loci affecting some carcass and meat traits in duck (Anas platyrhynchos).

Contrary to chicken and livestock mammals, duck genome has not been explored much. Nowadays a relatively small number of reports on molecular variability and mapping of loci in Peking ducks has been published. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect single loci affecting body weight, carcass and meat traits in Peking ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). The study was based on an F2 cross between two parental lines A-55 and GL-30. Phenotypes of 387 birds from generation F2 including carcass and meat quality traits were collected. Linkage map, of the linkage group CAU1, consisting of 29 microsatellite markers was constructed. One highly significant (p < 0.01) QTL for skin weight was identified at the beginning (0 cM) of the linkage group CAU1. Two significant QTL (p < 0.05) were found for fatness of leg muscle and leg muscle electrical conductivity - 24 hours post slaughtering (EC24h) at 178 and 100 cM, respectively. Additionally one suggestive QTL for odour of leg muscle was identified at 265 cM.

Inter and intra subpopulation genetic variability of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) assessed by I and II class genetic markers.

The material was collected in three regions of Poland and consisted of 105 randomly chosen individuals killed during hunts (49 males, 56 females), out of which 51 were from Wielkopolska, 22 from Podkarpacie and 32 from Warmia. From each animal a blood sample was taken from the chest, stored in a probe with K2EDTA and frozen. The serum was used to establish the genotype for transferin and albumin whereas the samples with erythrocytes provided information on hemoglobin genotype. DNA was isolated from samples from each individual. Characteristics of eight (from among twelve studied) microsatellite loci and genetic distances were estimated by the use of standard computer package programs. Generally, monomorphism in blood proteins was registered. For the microsatellite loci the number of alleles ranged from 3 in the RT27-6-Fa locus (effectively two as the third allele was present only in two subpopulations with a very low frequency) to 10 in RT1-VI. Five loci showed heterozygosity of 0.5 or above which suggests their usefulness in parentage control. Considerable genetic distances (corresponding to geographical mileages) between the subpopulations were observed based on microsatellite markers.

Analysis of DNA polymorphism (RAPD-PCR) and reciprocal effects of geese crossbreeds.

Commercial geese breeding in Poland is based on two strains of White Italian geese (W11 and W33). The crossbreeds W33 (paternal line) and W11 (maternal line) are distributed in Poland under the commercial brand of White Koluda goose. However, there are several breeds which are covered by the animal genetic resources conservation program and kept as conservative flocks. These breeds proved invaluable to commercial geese breeding to stabilize body weight, improve muscling and decrease the amount of fat in the carcass of the crossbreeds. Therefore, this study analyzed the reciprocal crossbreeds of White Koluda geese with the individuals from conservative flocks. DNA polymorphism (RAPD-PCR) of the crossbreeds as well as the phenotypic effect of crossbreeding was evaluated. PCR amplification of five RAPD markers resulted in obtaining 14.25 band/crossbreed group. The genetic similarity of the crossbreeds expressed as band sharing frequency (BS) ranged from 0.44 to 0.97. The direction of crossing of the W33 goose with one of the individuals from the conservative flock strongly affected the genetic similarity estimates. The body weight in the 17th or 24th week of life and the percentage of leg muscle weight in the 24th week of life differed significantly depending on the crossbreed genotype. A similar relationship was demonstrated for egg fertilization and number of nestlings per goose. As the lines were differentiated only by origin of the Z chromosome, the background of the differences in genetic polymorphism and the phenotypic records is hypothesized as (i) the linkage of some production traits with sex chromosomes; (ii) the impact of selection on W33 individuals resulting in lower performance of geese with a W33-derived Z chromosome; (iii) genetic imprinting displayed as the effect of either maternal or paternal origin of the Z chromosome.

Generation of cloned and chimeric embryos/offspring using the new methods of animal biotechnology.

The article summarizes results of studies concerning: 1/ qualitative evaluation of pig nuclear donor cells to somatic cell cloning, 2/ developmental potency of sheep somatic cells to create chimera, 3/ efficient production of chicken chimera. The quality of nuclear donor cells is one of the most important factors to determine the efficiency of somatic cell cloning. Morphological criteria commonly used for qualitative evaluation of somatic cells may be insufficient for practical application in the cloning. Therefore, different types of somatic cells being the source of genomic DNA in the cloning procedure were analyzed on apoptosis with the use of live-DNA or plasma membrane fluorescent markers. It has been found that morphological criteria are a sufficient selection factor for qualitative evaluation of nuclear donor cells to somatic cell cloning. Developmental potencies of sheep somatic cells in embryos and chimeric animals were studied using blastocyst complementation test. Fetal fibroblasts stained with vital fluorescent dye and microsurgically placed in morulae or blastocysts were later identified in embryos cultured in vitro. Transfer of Polish merino blastocysts harbouring Heatherhead fibroblasts to recipient ewes brought about normal births at term. Newly-born animals were of merino appearance with dark patches on their noses, near the mouth and on their clovens. This overt chimerism shows that fetal fibroblasts introduced to sheep morulae/blastocysts revealed full developmental plasticity. To achieve the efficient production of chicken chimeras, the blastodermal cells from embryos of the donor breeds, (Green-legged Partridgelike breed or GPxAraucana) were transferred into the embryos of the recipient breed (White Leghorn), and the effect of chimerism on the selected reproductive and physiological traits of recipients was examined. Using the model which allowed identification of the chimerism at many loci, it has been found that 93.9% of the examined birds were chimeras. The effect of donor cells on the reproduction and physiology of the recipients was evident.

Effects of tamoxifen dose and nutrition scheme during growth on stimulation of the reproductive system in cornish breed cocks.

The effects of tamoxifen (TAM) antiestrogen dose as well as protein and energy content in feed on stimulation of the reproductive system development in meat type cocks were studied. The experiment was conducted on males of the Dominant White Cornish chicken breed. The optimum TAM dose for stimulation of reproductive system development was at the level of 5 mg per kg body weight. The effects of TAM administration on the following traits were investigated: body weight, breast muscle thickness, age at sexual maturity, egg fertilization and hatchability. No effect of TAM on breast muscle thickness was found. It was also noted that semen obtained from 11 to 12 week old males of the Dominant White Cornish breed could be used successfully in the insemination of females.

Assessment of the effect of alpha-galactosides injected during embryogenesis on selected chicken traits.

The effect of different doses of alpha-galactoside (RFOs) preparations from Pisum sativum L. cv. Opal, injected into eggs during embryogenesis, on maintaining a high number of bifidobacteria, selected chicken broiler traits and the lipoprotein level of blood were studied. Two independent experiments were conducted. In the first, Ringer water solution containing 1.763 mg/egg of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (I group), 2.1158 mg of pea RFO preparation containing 20% sucrose (II group) and 0.4232 mg of sucrose (III group) were injected into Hubbard broiler breeder eggs containing 12-day old embryos. Only Ringer water solution was applied to the eggs of the control group (IV group). The number of bifidobacteria determined in faeces of two-day old chicken of groups I and II was significantly higher in comparison with the sucrose and control groups. The high level ofbifidobacteria of groups I and II was maintained during 6 weeks. The dose of both preparations had no influence on the body weight, carcass, breast muscle, leg and abdominal fat ratio, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL serum concentrations. Broiler mortality and breast muscle cholesterol concentration was highest (P < 0.05) for the control group. On the other hand, the European Production Index, as well as serum triglycerides, were the lowest for this group. The second experiment was performed on Hybro G chicken breeder eggs. 0.69, 3.43 and 6.87 mg/egg of pea RFO preparation doses containing 20% sucrose were injected into the experimental groups. The number of bifidobacteria in the caecum and selected meat traits of broilers were determined. The results of this experiment confirmed that RFO injection in ovo causes the long-time maintenance of a high level ofbifidobacteria. The dose of the preparations does not have any effect on the selected broiler meat traits, except that the highest dose increases the percent of carcase in body weight. However, this dose reduced the hatchability of the treated embryos.