Detection of polymorphism of Pit1 gene exon 6 in West Azerbaijan native chickens using PCR-SSCP technique

Somatotropical genes are as transcription factors that have crucial role in chicken growth. Pit1 gene is a pituitary specific transcription factor that has major roles on the differentiation of anterior pituitary and the regulation of the prolactin, growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone-β genes. Pit1 gene is regarded as a key candidate gene for productive traits of chickens. This study was conducted to determine the polymorphism of Pit1 gene exon 6 of west Azerbaijan native chickens using Polymerase chain reaction - Single-strand conformation polymorphism. Blood samples were randomly collected from 100 birds and DNA was extracted from the blood samples. Exon 6 of Pit1 gene encompassing 179 bp was amplified. The PCR products were electrophoresed in 10% polyacrylamide gel and stained with silver nitrate. Based on SSCP analyze of PCR products, three genotypes including AA, AB and BB were identified. The genotypes in this locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Shanon index, Nie index and observed heterozygosity were 0.59, 1.67 and 0.32 respectively. On the basis of obtained results it was revealed that the Pit1 gene had high degree of polymorphism which can be considered for future breeding programs.