Effects of genetic background on responses to superovulation in Japanese Black cattle

We investigated the effects of genetic background on the responses to superovulation in Japanese Black cattle. The genotype frequencies of GRIA1 and FSHR relating to ovulation and follicular development in each of the major bloodlines—Tajiri, Fujiyoshi, and Kedaka—were analyzed. The Tajiri line had the lowest frequency of G allele homozygosity of c.710A>G in GRIA1 among the three bloodlines, and deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was detected. Genotype frequencies of c.337C>G, c.871A>G, and c.1973C>G in FSHR were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in all bloodlines. The results of generalized linear mixed-model analyses showed that farm, levels of plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration, age in months, repeated superovulation, c.337C>G in FSHR, and bloodlines had significant effects on the responses to superovulation. The number of transferable embryos in the group heterozygous for c.337C>G in FSHR was significantly higher than that in the group homozygous for the C allele. The Kedaka line showed a significantly higher number of ova/embryos, fertilized embryos, and transferable embryos than the Tajiri and Fujiyoshi lines. The concentration of circulating AMH is a useful endocrine marker for antral follicle counts. This study revealed the effects of genetic background on the responses to superovulation using levels of plasma AMH concentration as a covariate. The prominent effect of genetic background on superovulation in the Kedaka line requires additional studies to confirm the genomic regions and polymorphisms that are involved in the trait.