[Preliminary studies of microsatellite markers OarAE101 and BM1329 in five sheep breeds]

Two microsatellite markers OarAE101 and BM1329 which were closely linked to the fecundity gene FecB in Booroola sheep were analysed for polymorphisms in Small Tail Han sheep, Hu sheep, Charollais sheep, Ujumqin sheep, Dorset sheep, F1 (Dorset x Small Tail Han sheep). The number of alleles for OarAE101 was 5 or 4 in five sheep breeds. The number of alleles for BM1329 was all 4 in five sheep breeds. The polymorphic information contents for OarAE101/BM1329 in Small Tail Han sheep, Hu sheep, Charollais sheep, Ujumquin sheep, Dorset sheep, F1(Dorset x Small Tail Han sheep) were 0.57/0.54, 0.62/0.67, 0.61/0.59, 0.62/0.66, 0.56/0.67, 0.62/0.68, respectively. Least squares mean of litter size for OarAE101 107 bp/113 bp was significantly higher than those for OarAE101 109 bp/109 bp and 107 bp/111 bp (P < 0.05) in Small Tail Han sheep. Least squares means for litter size were not significantly different among other OarAE101 genotypes. The allele 107 bp of OarAE101 had a significant positive correlation with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep, both alleles 109 bp and 111 bp of OarAE101 had a significant negative correlation with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep. Least squares mean of litter size for BM1329 146 bp/158 bp was significantly higher than those for other BM1329 genotypes (P < 0.05) in Small Tail Han sheep. Least squares means for litter size were not obviously different among other BM1329 genotypes. The allele 146 bp of BM1329 had a significant positive correlation with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep, the allele 148 bp of BM1329 had a significant negative correlation with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep.