The Allele and Genotype Frequencies of Bovine Pituitaryspecific Transcription Factor and Leptin Genes in IranianCattle and Buffalo Populations Using PCR-RFLP

The use of polymorphic markers in breeding programmes could make selection more accurate and efficient. A total of 324 individuals from six Iranian cattle populations (Sarabi, Golpayegani, Sistani, Taleshi, Mazandarani, Dashtiyari), F1 Golpayegani × Brown Swiss and Iranian buffalo populations were genotypedfor the Pit-1 HinfI and leptin Sau3AI polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragmentlength polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotype and gene frequencies for each breed were determined andshown to be quite variable among the breeds. The highest frequencies of allele B for the leptin gene andallele A for the Pit-1 gene were found in Dashtiyari and Sistani cattle, respectively. According to our results,the highest AB genotype frequencies were found in the Taleshi and F1 Golpayegani x Brown Swiss cross forthe leptin and Pit-1 genes, respectively. These allele frequencies were comparable to previously publisheddata on exotic breeds. The highest and lowest heterozygosities were found in Taleshi and Dashtiyari cattlefor the leptin gene and in F1 Golpayegani x Brown Swiss cross and Sistani cattle for the Pit-1 gene, respectively. These values indicated the presence of low variation for these genes in the studied populations.The possible association between molecular polymorphisms within these candidate genes and economictraits for the studied populations should be further investigated.