[LEP gene allelic polymorphism in a subpopulation of Ayrshire cattle]

Genotyping of the leptin gene locus (LEP) (SNP: R25C, Y7F, and A80V) has been conducted in cows from two cattle droves (n = 106 and n = 34) and in bulls of Ayrshire cattle (n = 9) that are intensively used at present for artificial insemination in cows in Krasnodar krai. The absence of A80V polymorphism (C --> T at position 95691973 bp of leptin gene) has been established in the genotypes of Ayrshire cattle as compared to Holstein cattle; however, the F allele (Y7F site A --> T at position 95689996 bp of LEP gene), which is rare in Holstein cattle, was shown to be frequent in Ayrshire cows and producer bulls (with a frequency of 0.22-0.79). The heterozygosity did not exceed 0.11 in adult animals, which might be evidence of a decreased vitality in animals bearing the FF genotype. Moreover, the CC genotype (R25C site T-C at position 95690050 bp of LEP gene) was revealed to be linked to the YY genotype (Y7F site) in 97% of cases from possible combinations of the CCYY, CCYF, and CCFF genotypes, while the FF genotype (Y7F site) was observed to be linked to the RR genotype (R25C site) in 100% of cases of possible combinations of FFCC, FFRC, and FFRR genotypes.