Genotyping of White Coat Color inTaiwan Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

• Main Authors: Pi-Hua Chuang, 莊璧華
• Other Authors: Ching-Feng Weng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7739tx

碩士 === 國立東華大學 === 生物技術研究所 === 96 === Taiwan Water buffalo is one of the important germplasm preservation animals in Taiwan.The morphology of most water buffalo is black or gray and the white one is rarely seen. Therefore, the white water buffalo is valuable and the genetic background is worth to study. The aim of this study attempted to investigate the white coat color of Taiwan water buffalo via morphological, biochemical (the melanin content of skin and hair, the histology of the ear skin, the haematology, and genotyping (six gene loci: melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R)、tyrosinase family genes (TYR, TYRP1, TYRP2)、KIT and KITLG (KIT ligand) assays for understanding the genetic characters of white coat color. The experimental white buffalos and black ones were grazing during the daytime and were capable to tolerate UV exposure. The white buffalos had black eyes and brown-to-gray skin. Moreover, the melanocytes and the melanin granulers were observed in the tissue sections as the appearance of the black buffalos. The melanin contents of the skin and hair of white and black buffalos were 0.255±0.069 and 0.632±0.232 μ g/mg, 0.407 ±0.306 and 2.734 ±2.409μ g/mg, respectively. Both melanin contents of white buffalos in skin and hair were lower levels than those of black buffalos. This result indicated that the ability of melanin synthesis was normal in white water buffalo. The haematology examinations of both buffalos were within the normal level. Genotyping of four genes (MC1R、KIT (exon11-18) and KITLG (exon 2-9) ) in white buffalo were identical with black one. The mRNA of skin tyrosinase family genes (TYR, TYRP1, TYRP2) in white buffalo were lower expression levels than that of black one, especially in TYRP2 gene. These results indicate that lower expression of tyrosinase in white buffalo may reduce the melanin synthesis and consequently result in the white coat color.