Abstract
Two splice variant forms of the chicken very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) have recently been shown to exist in both male and female chicken gonads. The longer form, containing an O-linked sugar domain, is produced in the somatic cells of the testes and ovaries, whereas the shorter form, which lacks this domain, is expressed in the male and female germ cells. The latter is essential for female reproduction, because a naturally occurring point mutation in the gene encoding the short form of the VLDLR causes its functional absence, resulting in atherosclerosis and a general failure to lay eggs. Thus, the term restricted ovulator (RO) was originally coined to describe females with the mutant gene. In contrast, the roles of the VLDLR gene products in male reproduction have yet to be defined, because only heterozygous RO roosters, which have a mutant allele of the VLDLR gene (short form) on one of their two Z (sex) chromosomes, can be obtained. However, the question of whether two normal alleles of the VLDLR gene are needed for optimal male reproductive performance can be addressed. Here, the reproductive abilities of heterozygous RO roosters were compared to their wild-type siblings. The RO roosters were found to be phenotypically normal, suggesting that only one normal allele for the VLDLR gene is needed for optimal male reproductive performance. Alternately, it is also possible that the one normal allele compensated for the presence of the mutant one in terms of VLDLR gene product production (i.e., a dosage compensation).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1280-1282 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Poultry science |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2002 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Animal Science and Zoology
Cite this
}
Assessment of reproductive function in mutant restricted ovulator carrier roosters. / Elkin, R. G.; Zhong, Y.
In: Poultry science, Vol. 81, No. 9, 09.2002, p. 1280-1282.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of reproductive function in mutant restricted ovulator carrier roosters
AU - Elkin, R. G.
AU - Zhong, Y.
PY - 2002/9
Y1 - 2002/9
N2 - Two splice variant forms of the chicken very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) have recently been shown to exist in both male and female chicken gonads. The longer form, containing an O-linked sugar domain, is produced in the somatic cells of the testes and ovaries, whereas the shorter form, which lacks this domain, is expressed in the male and female germ cells. The latter is essential for female reproduction, because a naturally occurring point mutation in the gene encoding the short form of the VLDLR causes its functional absence, resulting in atherosclerosis and a general failure to lay eggs. Thus, the term restricted ovulator (RO) was originally coined to describe females with the mutant gene. In contrast, the roles of the VLDLR gene products in male reproduction have yet to be defined, because only heterozygous RO roosters, which have a mutant allele of the VLDLR gene (short form) on one of their two Z (sex) chromosomes, can be obtained. However, the question of whether two normal alleles of the VLDLR gene are needed for optimal male reproductive performance can be addressed. Here, the reproductive abilities of heterozygous RO roosters were compared to their wild-type siblings. The RO roosters were found to be phenotypically normal, suggesting that only one normal allele for the VLDLR gene is needed for optimal male reproductive performance. Alternately, it is also possible that the one normal allele compensated for the presence of the mutant one in terms of VLDLR gene product production (i.e., a dosage compensation).
AB - Two splice variant forms of the chicken very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) have recently been shown to exist in both male and female chicken gonads. The longer form, containing an O-linked sugar domain, is produced in the somatic cells of the testes and ovaries, whereas the shorter form, which lacks this domain, is expressed in the male and female germ cells. The latter is essential for female reproduction, because a naturally occurring point mutation in the gene encoding the short form of the VLDLR causes its functional absence, resulting in atherosclerosis and a general failure to lay eggs. Thus, the term restricted ovulator (RO) was originally coined to describe females with the mutant gene. In contrast, the roles of the VLDLR gene products in male reproduction have yet to be defined, because only heterozygous RO roosters, which have a mutant allele of the VLDLR gene (short form) on one of their two Z (sex) chromosomes, can be obtained. However, the question of whether two normal alleles of the VLDLR gene are needed for optimal male reproductive performance can be addressed. Here, the reproductive abilities of heterozygous RO roosters were compared to their wild-type siblings. The RO roosters were found to be phenotypically normal, suggesting that only one normal allele for the VLDLR gene is needed for optimal male reproductive performance. Alternately, it is also possible that the one normal allele compensated for the presence of the mutant one in terms of VLDLR gene product production (i.e., a dosage compensation).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036728383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036728383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ps/81.9.1280
DO - 10.1093/ps/81.9.1280
M3 - Article
C2 - 12269604
AN - SCOPUS:0036728383
VL - 81
SP - 1280
EP - 1282
JO - Poultry Science
JF - Poultry Science
SN - 0032-5791
IS - 9
ER -