Veterinary Integrative Sciences (Dec 2020)

Effect of porcine IL-6 polymorphism on litter size traits in commercial pig breeds

  • Worrarak Norseeda,
  • Guisheng Liu,
  • Tawatchai Teltathum,
  • Korawan Sringarm,
  • Watcharapong Naraballobh,
  • Trisadee Khamlor,
  • Patcharin Krutmuang,
  • Supamit Mekchay

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2021.021
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 2
pp. 237 – 246

Abstract

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This study aimed to verify the polymorphisms in the porcine IL-6 gene and to elucidate its effects on litter size traits in Large White and Landrace sows. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the porcine IL-6 gene (g.91506415A>G, g.91507983A>G, g.91508173C>T, and g.91508716C>T) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. There was no polymorphism observed on the three SNPs (g.91506415A>G, g.91507983A>G, and g.91508716C>T) of the porcine IL-6 gene. The porcine IL-6 g.91508173C>T polymorphism was found to be segregating in Large White and Landrace sows. The porcine IL-6 g.91508173C>T polymorphism was significantly associated with the total number born (TNB) and the number of piglets weaned alive (NWA) traits in Large White sows (PT polymorphism was significantly associated with the TNB, number born alive (NBA), and NWA traits in Landrace sows (PT polymorphism was associated with litter size traits. These findings confirmed the importance of the IL-6 gene as a candidate gene for litter size traits in pigs.