Association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Atp2B1 Gene and Bone Parameters of Laying Hens

Experiments were performed in 110 ISA Brown egg production hens (Gallus gallus), kept from 15 to 26 weeks of age in enriched (furnished) housing technology. The present objective was to investigate the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ATP2B1 gene and their effects on calcium homeostasis in laying hens. The plasma membrane calcium-transporting ATPase 1 gene (ATP2B1) in hens is located on chromosome 1, region 43 273 706 – 43 305 815 bp. The ATP2B1 gene has 21 exons, and in this study three were genotyped. In each experimental group of animals, only alleles without deletions in exon 10 and only allele A in exon 12 were found. In exon 8, only genotypes CC/CC, TT/CC and TT/TT were found. These genotypes are associated with femur breaking strength, bone diameter, bone marrow diameter and compact bone thickness. No significant effects of SNPs in exon 8 on bone characteristics were found.