Genet. Sel. Evol. 34 (2002) 389-406
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2002014

Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of eight new reciprocal translocations in the pig species. Estimation of their incidence in French populations

Alain Ducos^a, Alain Pinton^a, Martine Yerle^b, Anne Séguéla^a, Hélène-Marie Berland^a, Corinne Brun-Baronnat^a, Nathalie Bonnet^a and Roland Darré<sup>a

a</sup>  UMR INRA-ENVT de cytogénétique des populations animales, École nationale vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des capelles, 31076 Toulouse Cedex 3, France
^b  Institut national de la recherche agronomique, Laboratoire de génétique cellulaire, Auzeville BP 27, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France

(Received 25 October 2001; accepted 20 December 2001)

Abstract
Eight new cases of reciprocal translocation in the domestic pig are described. All the rearrangements were highlighted using GTG banding techniques. Chromosome painting experiments were also carried out to confirm the proposed hypotheses and to accurately locate the breakpoints. Three translocations, rcp(4;6)(q21;p14), rcp(2;6)(p17;q27) and rcp(5;17)(p12;q13) were found in boars siring small litters (8.3 and 7.4 piglets born alive per litter, on average, for translocations 2/6 and 5/17, respectively). The remaining five, rcp(5;8)(p12;q21), rcp(15;17)(q24;q21), rcp(7;8)(q24;p21), rcp(5;8)(p11;p23) and rcp(3;15)(q27;q13) were identified in young boars controlled before entering reproduction. A decrease in prolificacy of 22% was estimated for the 3/15 translocation after reproduction of the boar carrier. A parental origin by inheritance of the translocation was established for the (5;8)(p11;p23) translocation. The overall incidence of reciprocal translocations in the French pig populations over the 2000/2001 period was estimated (0.34%).

Key words: chromosome / reciprocal translocation / pig / reproductive performance / chromosome painting

Correspondence and reprints: Alain Ducos
    e-mail: a.ducos@envt.fr

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2002