MELATONIN RECEPTOR 1A GENE POLYMORPHISM IN MURRAH BUFFALOES WITH POSSIBLE IMPACT ON SUMMER ANESTROUS

In the present study murrah buffaloes were analyzed to investigate polymorphic sites for Mnl I, Rsa I and Hpa11 using three different primers of expected size of 268 bp (1), 824 bp (2) and 856 bp (3). PCR of genomic DNA using primers 1, 2 and 3 resulted in successful amplification of bands of 824 bp, 268 bp and 856 bp corresponding to the main part of the exon II of the MTNR1A melatonin receptor gene. Polymorphism was noticeable at 50 bp and 267 / 110 bp restriction sites upon digestion of 824 bp PCR product with Mnl I and Rsa I, respectively. Genotypic frequency for the presence of 50 bp and 267 / 110 bp restriction sites was 0.62 and 0.95 / 0.33, respectively. Digestion of 856 bp PCR product with Mnl I and Rsa I also showed polymorphism at 236 / 50 bp and 320 / 50 bp restriction sites, respectively. Genotypic frequency for the presence of 236 / 50 bp and 320 / 50 bp restriction sites was 0.04 / 0.76 and 0.10 / 0.05, respectively. Our observations also revealed a difference in polymorphism of MTNR1A gene amid heifers and cows. Polymorphism observed in MTNR1A gene in Murrah buffaloes may have impact on summer anestrous and needs to be investigated.