Genetic characterization of Japanese native horse breeds by genotyping variants that are associated with phenotypic traits

Ibuki Saito; Kotono Nakamura; Teruaki Tozaki; Kazuki Hano; Masaki Takasu

doi:10.1294/jes.34.115

Genetic characterization of Japanese native horse breeds by genotyping variants that are associated with phenotypic traits

J Equine Sci. 2023 Dec;34(4):115-120. doi: 10.1294/jes.34.115. Epub 2024 Jan 18.

Authors

Ibuki Saito¹, Kotono Nakamura¹, Teruaki Tozaki^{1

2}, Kazuki Hano³, Masaki Takasu^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
² Genetic Analysis Department, Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan.
³ Gifu University Institute for Advanced Study, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
⁴ Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research (COMIT), Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the loss of genetic diversity in Japanese native horses because of their declining populations. In this study, we investigated the genetic variation of four genes, myostatin (MSTN), ligand-dependent nuclear receptor corepressor like (LCORL), doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 (DMRT3), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (HTR1A), which are associated with horse phenotypic traits, in six Japanese horse breeds (Hokkaido, Kiso, Noma, Misaki, Tokara, and Yonaguni). MSTN, LCORL, DMRT3, and HTR1A showed polymorphisms in the Kiso; Hokkaido and Noma; Hokkaido; and Kiso, Tokara, and Yonaguni breeds, respectively. The Misaki did not show polymorphisms in any of the genes. This study may serve as a basis for developing future breeding strategies focusing on traits in Japanese native horses.

Keywords: breeding; conservation; insertion and deletion; single-nucleotide variant.