Association of polymorphisms of the GHRHR gene with growth traits in cattle (Brief report)

Abstract. The hypothalamic hormone, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), is the principal stimulator of pituitary growth hormone (GH) synthesis and secretion. Its pituitary receptor is well characterized as a member of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (MAYO et al., 1992). GHRH and its receptor provide important functions in the regulation of the GH axis and in the development and proliferation of pituitary somatotropes (LIN-SU et al., 2002). By now, polymorphisms of bovine GHRHR were not reported. In the present experiment the 5' flanking region, the coding region and partially introns of GHRHR were screened to detect the SNPs in the predominant cattle breeds of China.