African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (17), pp. 2009-2013, 5 September 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Association of polymorphisms in avian apoVLDL-II gene with body weight and abdominal fat weight

Hassan Hussein Musa^{1, 2} and Guo Hong Chen¹*

¹College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.

²Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Nyala, Sudan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ghchen@yzu.edu.cn,  hassan_hm30@yahoo.com.

Accepted 23 January, 2007

To investigate the association of avian apoVLDL-II gene polymorphism with body weight and fat, exactly 120 genetically fat (Anka) and lean (Rugao) chicken reared under the same environment and management were selected. Blood samples from the respective populations were taken for DNA extraction, and then slaughter for fat determination. Polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSCP techniques. Gene frequency was non significantly different between population at VLDL6 and VLDL10 loci. However, in VLDL9 and VLDL17 loci the gene frequency was differed significantly (P<0.01) between populations. Polymorphism in apoVLDL-II gene was significantly (P<0.05) associated with body weight and fat weight at VLDL9 and VLDL17 loci in lean chicken. In addition, polymorphism of apoVLDL-II gene at VLDL6, VLDL9 and VLDL10 loci was significantly (P<0.05) associated with body weight and fat weight.

Key words: Polymorphism, apoVLDL-II, body weight, fat, avian.