Five genetic groups of rabbits, APRI (A), Moshtohor (M), ½A½M, Sinai Gabali (G) and V-line (V)
rabbits were genotyped for the growth hormone gene (GH) to detect the polymorphic associations of GH
genotypes (TT, TC and CC) with semen traits. Semen traits included: ejaculate volume (VE), semen pH
(pH), motility of spermatozoa (MS), sperm cell concentration (SC), live spermatozoa (LS) and normal
spermatozoa (NS). Across all genetic groups, the TC genotype had the highest values for VE, MS, LS and
NS traits compared to the other genotypes, while the CC genotype had the highest values for SC and pH.
In V-line rabbits, the TT genotype showed higher values than CC genotype with an increase of 1.2% and
34x106 in NS and SC, respectively and the TC genotype was higher than CC for MS and LS with an
increase to be 2.0% and 3.6%, respectively. In Moshtohor line rabbits, the TC genotype showed higher
values than TT genotype for MS and NS with an increase of 4.4% and 0.6%, respectively and the TT
genotype was higher than CC genotype for SC with an increase of 37x106. The TC genotype in APRI line
rabbits was associated with an increase of 0.11 ml, 2.3% and 2.2% in VE, MS and NS, respectively
compared with CC genotype and the CC genotype was the highest in SC with an increase of 178x106,
respectively over TT genotype. The TT genotype in ½A½M cross was the highest in MS and NS with an
increase of 3.8% and 0.9%, respectively over CC genotype, while TC genotype had the highest value for
SC compared with other genotypes. The TT genotype in Sinai Gabali rabbits was significantly associated
with an increase of 7.4 % and 91x106 in MS and SC over TC genotype. The TC genotype was the highest
in VE with an increase of 0.17 ml over CC genotype and over TT genoytpe with an increase in LS. |
