Short communication Associations of the IGF2 gene with growth and meat efficiency in Large White pigs

Abstract. The insulin-like growth factor 2 gene (IGF2) has been described in several studies as a candidate gene for meat efficiency in pigs. IGF2 is a member of the growth factors family and has an effect on development of muscle tissue. The effect of IGF2 gene polymorphism on meat efficiency was analysed in a population of 121 Large White pigs. A PCR-based test and RFLP methods were used for detection of genotypes. Allele A, lacking the restriction site, was characterised by the presence of a 0.9-kb frag-ment. In allele B, the amplimer was cut into a 0.8-kb fragment and some barely detect-able fragments. The statistical analysis was carried out according to the General Linear Model procedure. The genotype frequencies observed were: 1.65%, 33.88%, 64.46% for AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. There was a significant difference (P 0.05) between the AB and BB genotypes in live weight before the test. A signifi-cant association between AB and BB genotypes and body weight before the test was found. No significant difference in other traits of growth and meat efficiency was ob-served (P 0.05). Key words: insulin-like growth factor; IGF2, meat efficiency, pig. Growth as a biological phenomenon is controlled by a complex of endo-, para-, and autocrine control mechanisms. The insulin growth factor (IGF) complex plays a key role in growth regulation together with insulin, thyroid hormones, sex steroids, and the growth hormone. The IGF system consists of two insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2), two receptors, and six binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to-6). IGFs ar