Estimation of Genetic Variance Based on the Growth Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF9) Gene and its Association with Semen quality in Local Iraqi Goats

Abstract

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) is a member of the TGFß superfamily that plays a critical role in females' ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate. However, its role in the testis has not been elucidated in Goats. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of GDF9 mutations on the quality of fresh semen in Bucks. Direct sequencing was used to screen possible SNP loci in the goat GDF9 exon one, one SNP locus site 2006 CTC < CTA ( leu < leu ) was identified positively in 15 local Iraqi Bucks. Analysis of variance revealed that significant effect of breeding value for concentration, individual ( p > 0.05) movement, and Acrosome integrity, in All, so of dominance effects of volume, Individual movement, and Acrosome integrity. All traits have low genetic variation, which means that the environment varies high. This study is the first to show a significant association of GDF9 in the initiation or maintenance of spermatogenesis in male goats.