Association of inhibin-α gene polymorphisms with follicular cysts in large white sows

Ovarian follicular cysts are anovulatory follicular structures that have been identified in sows and are known to cause infertility. The pathogenesis of follicular cysts remains poorly understood. Hormones play key roles in the formation and persistence of cysts. The hormone inhibin is a member of the TGF-β superfamily and is named for its negative regulation of FSH, another hormone that controls follicular recruitment and growth. In the present study, 48 sows with follicular cysts and 60 normal sows with no cysts were screened for mutations in the inhibin-α gene to examine the association of inhibin-α gene polymorphisms with the presence of follicular cysts. The results show that the c.-42G>A and c.3222G>A polymorphisms are significantly associated with follicular cysts and that sows with c.-42GG and c.3222GG genotypes have lower risk of developing cysts. Our findings may provide novel biological biomarkers and promising gene therapy candidates for follicular cyst formation in sows, which would greatly benefit pig breeding programs.