Abstract
A total of 96 semen samples were collected from Sanjabi breed sheep over two years and during autumn and spring seasons in order to investigate the leptin gene polymorphism and its relationship with the characteristics of sperm quality and testicular size. At the same time, the dimensions of length, ...
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A total of 96 semen samples were collected from Sanjabi breed sheep over two years and during autumn and spring seasons in order to investigate the leptin gene polymorphism and its relationship with the characteristics of sperm quality and testicular size. At the same time, the dimensions of length, width and scrotal circumference were measured and blood samples were taken from sheep jugular vein for extract DNA. PCR was performed using specific primers to amplify a 463bp fragment including exon 3 of leptin gene. After PCR and determining three GG, GT and TT genotypes in the studied samples, it was determined that leptin gene polymorphism had significant relation with individual motility (P<0.05) and motility spermatozoa in animals with GG genotype had the highest. sperm volume, sperm concentration, total sperm ejaculated, hypo osmotic swelling test (HOS), viability and sperm index, in animals with GG genotype had the highest (P<0.05). In animals with TT genotype mean of length and scrotal circumference and in GT genotypes also testicular width and volume were more compared to GG genotypes. These results showed of this leptin gene polymorphism in order to improving fertility in breeding programs of Sanjabi sheep had high heterozygosity, it seems that more studies in larger populations are needed to better understand the relation of other leptin gene polymorphisms on ram fertility.