polymorphism within the intron region of the bovine leptin gene in slovak pinzgau cattle

Leptin is 16 kDa protein synthesized by adipose tissue and involved energy balance by inhibiting food intake and stimulating energy expenditure, reproductive and immune functions. The physiological properties support leptin as a strong candidate gene for evaluating of genetic polymorphism, which has further been associated with growth, milk yield and other economical traits in livestock. The aim of this study was detection polymorphism in the intron region of the leptin gene on bovine chromosome 4 by using PCR-RFLP method. A total of 100 Slovak Pinzgau cows were used for SNP genotyping. A strategy employing PCR was used to amplify a 422 bp product from hair roots DNA samples. The genotype and allele frequencies for each breed were determined and tested to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Digestion of PCR products with restriction enzyme Sau3AI revealed two alleles: allele A was 390, 32 fragments and allele B was 303, 88, 32. Three patterns were observed and frequencies were 0.4761, 0.4278 and 0.0961 for AA, AB and BB, respectively.