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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Biosci / Genome-wide association study for frozen-thawed sperm motili...
Animal bioscience2022; 35(12); 1827-1838; doi: 10.5713/ab.21.0504

Genome-wide association study for frozen-thawed sperm motility in stallions across various horse breeds.

Abstract: The semen quality of stallions including sperm motility is an important target of selection as it has a high level of individual variability. However, effects of the molecular architecture of the genome on the mechanisms of sperm formation and their preservation after thawing have been poorly investigated. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the sperm motility of cryopreserved semen in stallions of various breeds. Methods: Semen samples were collected from the stallions of 23 horse breeds. The following semen characteristics were examined: progressive motility (PM), progressive motility after freezing (FPM), and the difference between PM and FPM. The respective DNA samples from these stallions were genotyped using Axiom Equine Genotyping Array. Results: We performed a GWAS search for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and potential genes related to motility properties of frozen-thawed semen in the stallions of various breeds. As a result of the GWAS analysis, two SNP markers, rs1141327473 and rs1149048772, were identified that were associated with preservation of the frozen-thawed stallion sperm motility, the relevant putative candidate genes being NME/NM23 family member 8 (NME8), olfactory receptor family 2 subfamily AP member 1 (OR2AP1), and olfactory receptor family 6 subfamily C member 4 (OR6C4). Potential implications of effects of these genes on sperm motility are herein discussed. Conclusions: The GWAS results enabled us to localize novel SNPs and candidate genes for sperm motility in stallions. Implications of the study for horse breeding and genetics are a better understanding of genomic regions and candidate genes underlying stallion sperm quality, and improvement in horse reproduction and breeding techniques. The identified markers and genes for sperm cryotolerance and the respective genomic regions are promising candidates for further studying the biological processes in the formation and function of the stallion reproductive system.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-03 PubMed ID: 35240017PubMed Central: PMC9659452DOI: 10.5713/ab.21.0504Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the genetic factors affecting sperm quality in horses, particularly focusing on sperm motility during and after freezing. Two specific genetic markers were identified as possibly influencing sperm motility during freezing, paving a way for better horse reproduction and breeding techniques.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected semen samples from stallions spanning 23 different horse breeds to create a diverse pool of genetic material.
  • They then examined several characteristics of the collected semen, which include progressive motility (PM), progressive motility after freezing (FPM), and the difference between PM and FPM.
  • The stallions’ DNA was then extracted from these semen samples and genotyped using Axiom Equine Genotyping Array. This allowed the researchers to establish the genetic profiles of the stallions examined.

Results

  • A Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and potential genes related to the motility properties of frozen-thawed semen.
  • Two SNP markers, rs1141327473 and rs1149048772, were identified to be associated with the preservation of sperm motility during and after freezing.
  • The researchers identified three potential candidate genes related to these SNP markers: NME/NM23 family member 8 (NME8), olfactory receptor family 2 subfamily AP member 1 (OR2AP1), and olfactory receptor family 6 subfamily C member 4 (OR6C4).

Conclusion and Implications

  • The results from the GWAS enabled the researchers to identify novel SNPs and candidate genes related to sperm motility in stallions, thus increasing the understanding of the genomic regions and genes involved with stallion sperm quality.
  • The findings can help improve horse reproduction methods and breeding techniques. It also provides promising candidates for further studies aiming to understand biological processes in the formation and function of the stallion reproductive system.
  • The specific genetic markers and genes that have been identified provide promising directions for future research that would help in understanding and potentially improving the sperm cryotolerance in stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Nikitkina EV, Dementieva NV, Shcherbakov YS, Atroshchenko MM, Kudinov AA, Samoylov OI, Pozovnikova MV, Dysin AP, Krutikova AA, Musidray AA, Mitrofanova OV, Plemyashov KV, Griffin DK, Romanov MN. (2022). Genome-wide association study for frozen-thawed sperm motility in stallions across various horse breeds. Anim Biosci, 35(12), 1827-1838. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.21.0504

Publication

Animal bioscience
ISSN: 2765-0189
NlmUniqueID: 101774366
Country: Korea (South)
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 12
Pages: 1827-1838

Researcher Affiliations

Nikitkina, Elena V
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Dementieva, Natalia V
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Shcherbakov, Yuri S
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Atroshchenko, Mikhail M
  • All-Russian Research Institute for Horse Breeding, Rybnovsky District, Ryazan Oblast, 391105, Russia.
Kudinov, Andrei A
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Samoylov, Oleg I
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Pozovnikova, Marina V
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Dysin, Artem P
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Krutikova, Anna A
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Musidray, Artem A
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Mitrofanova, Olga V
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Plemyashov, Kirill V
  • Russian Research Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding - Branch of the L. K. Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry, Tyarlevo, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, 196625, Russia.
Griffin, Darren K
  • School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.
Romanov, Michael N
  • School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.

Grant Funding

  • 18-16-00071 / Russian Science Foundation

Conflict of Interest Statement

. We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Dementieva N, Nikitkina E, Shcherbakov Y, Nikolaeva O, Mitrofanova O, Ryabova A, Atroshchenko M, Makhmutova O, Zaitsev A. The Genetic Diversity of Stallions of Different Breeds in Russia.. Genes (Basel) 2023 Jul 24;14(7).
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