Effect of the MC4R gene polymorphism on the body weight in New Zealand White rabbits
Milena Bozhilova-Sakova
, Denis Viryanski
, Maya Ignatova
, Ivona Dimitrova
, Mostafa Helal
Abstract: The present study is a follow-up to a previous study of the genetic diversity in does and bucks of the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit breed. Does and bucks with the required genotype were bred and after birth, blood was taken from the offspring for DNA testing. The experiment included 50 kits of NZW breed. The live weight of the rabbits was monitored from birth to day 90. After carrying out PCR-RFLP analysis to establish the genotypes and estimate the genetic diversity of the studied groups of animals, a statistical analysis was conducted to demonstrate the genotype's effect on the animals' body weight. The results of the present study identified all three possible genotypes (GG, AG and AA) of MC4R gene. The frequency of heterozygous genotype AG (0.52) was higher than the other genotypes. The mutant genotype AA was with lowest frequency of 0.18. The student’s T-test was used to estimate the effect of the genotype on the body weight of the rabbits. According to the results, the animals with the mutant genotype AA had significantly higher body weight. A statistically significant difference was observed in individual birth weight in New Zealand White breed, at 70 days of age between the average values of genotype GG (1.703 kg) and AA (1.858 kg), where p=0.006 and between genotypes AG (1.722 kg) and AA (1.858 kg) where p v=0.02. At 90 days of age, a statistically significant difference was observed between genotypes GG (2,207) and AA (2,447) where p=0,003.
Keywords: body weight; MC4R gene; PCR-RFLP; polymorphism; rabbit breeding
Citation: Bozhilova-Sakova, M., Viryanski, D., Ignatova, M., Dimitrova, I. & Helal, M. (2025). Effect of the MC4R gene polymorphism on the body weight in New Zealand White rabbits. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(4), 795–799.
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| Date published: 2025-08-27
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