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Evidence for the effect of serotonin receptor 1A gene ( HTR 1A ) polymorphism on tractability in Thoroughbred horses
Author(s) -
Hori Y.,
Tozaki T.,
Nambo Y.,
Sato F.,
Ishimaru M.,
InoueMurayama M.,
Fujita K.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/age.12384
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , biology , snp , allele , gene , polymorphism (computer science) , genetics , serotonin , horse , genotype , receptor , 5 ht receptor , paleontology
Summary Tractability, or how easily animals can be trained and controlled, is an important behavioural trait for the management and training of domestic animals, but its genetic basis remains unclear. Polymorphisms in the serotonin receptor 1A gene ( HTR 1A ) have been associated with individual variability in anxiety‐related traits in several species. In this study, we examined the association between HTR 1A polymorphisms and tractability in Thoroughbred horses. We assessed the tractability of 167 one‐year‐old horses reared at a training centre for racehorses using a questionnaire consisting of 17 items. A principal components analysis of answers contracted the data to five principal component ( PC ) scores. We genotyped two non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNP s) in the horse HTR 1A coding region. We found that one of the two SNP s, c.709G>A, which causes an amino acid change at the intracellular region of the receptor, was significantly associated with scores of four of five PC s in fillies (all P s < 0.05) and one PC in colts ( P < 0.01). Horses carrying an A allele at c.709G>A showed lower tractability. This result provides the first evidence that a polymorphism in a serotonin‐related gene may affect tractability in horses with the effect partially different depending on sex.