A systematic evaluation of the dynamic changes of prolactin (PRL) around the whole cycle of broodiness in domestic fowl has not been performed. We started to investigate the overall changing profi le of PRL expression at both protein and mRNA levels from preto post-broodiness in Wan-xi White goose, an indigenous breed in East China. Th e onset of broodiness was recorded, and the plasma PRL conc...

Broodiness is a polygenic trait controlled by a small number of autosomal genes. Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor-1 (VIPR-1) gene could be a candidate of chicken broodiness, and its genomic variations and genetic effects on chicken broodiness traits were analyzed in this study. The partial cloning and sequencing of the VIPR-1 gene showed that the average nucleotide diversity was 0.00669 +...

Broodiness, a maternal behavior and instinct for natural breeding in poultry, inhibits egg production and affects the poultry industry. Phenotypic and physiological factors influencing broodiness in poultry have been extensively studied, but the molecular regulation mechanism of broodiness remains unclear. Effective research strategies focusing on broodiness are hindered by limited understandin...

Geese have the strongest tendency toward broodiness among all poultry. The mechanisms initiating broodiness within the goose hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) are still unclear. Here, we reported the transcriptome differences between laying and initial nesting within the HPGA tissues of geese. We constructed a unigene database based on HPGA tissues and identified 128,148 unigenes, 100%...

Prolactin (PRL) is generally accepted as crucial to the onset and maintenance of broodiness in avian species. The prolactin receptor (PRLR) plays an important role in the PRL signal transduction cascade. Two candidate genes, PRL and PRLR, were screened for polymorphisms in the chicken, and their genetic effects on broodiness were evaluated. Pedigreed hens (n = 155) of the Blue-shell chicken, a ...

1. In this study, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene was screened for variations by cloning and sequencing to analyse the association with chicken egg production and broodiness traits. 2. Sequencing revealed that 69 polymorphisms were found in a 9305-bp length of the chicken VIP gene, of which 39 were located in introns, 28 in 5' regulatory region, 1 in exon 6 (synonymous) and 1 in 3'...

Changes in plasma levels of prolactin and LH, feed intake, water consumption, behavioural pattern and ovarian activity were recorded after oral administration of PCPA to broody turkey hens. A decrease in prolactin concentration was measured, from day 3, in 3 out of the 5 birds treated with 100 mg PCPA/kg body weight (BW) for 3 consecutive days. In these hens, broodiness was disrupted on day 6 a...

The neuroendocrine control of broodiness was investigated in the bantam hen. The functional activity of hypothalamic monoaminergic neurones and the role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were considered in relation to the control of prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The functional activity of hypothalamic noradrenergic neurones, based on an index of turnover, did not change a...