Impact of β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) copy number variation on bull sperm parameters and post-insemination uterine gene expression.

ABSTRACT: Pregnancy rates for elite bulls used in artificial insemination (AI) can vary significantly and therefore the identification of molecular markers for fertility and targets to improve bull selection is important. β-defensin peptides have diverse regulatory roles in sperm function across multiple species but the role of copy number variation (CNV) on fertility parameters has not been previously evaluated. In this study, Holstein-Friesian bulls were screened based on reliable field fertility data to identify two groups (High and Low fertility (HF and LF, respectively)) of n = 10 bulls/group which were genotyped for β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) gene CNV by droplet digital PCR. Overall, low DEFB103 copy number (CN) was associated with increased sperm motility across all bulls (n = 20, p < 0.05). As

SUBMITTER: Sidekli O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11856272 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature