An Experimental Study on AQP1 expression in Skin Fibroblast Cells of Native Goat Breeds in Water Stress conditions

Author: Femi Francis, Ashutosh, Ditty Maria Dominic and Namratha Valsalan

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Abstract

Coming decades are to be affected by erratic climate changes and water scarcity. The goat breeds are efficient water utilisers especially of arid adapted regions such as Sirohi. Inherent genetic traits together with physiological and morphological mechanisms helps these animals to sustain these hurdles. Genetic adaptations being the most important factor deciding the adaptation ability of the animal, these needed to be focussed. Various genes act together for the survival of the breeds in water deficit areas. The study of the genetic mechanisms used by desert breeds that have co-evolved and adapted to the arid environments where water shortage is frequently experienced is necessary due to the current water deficit and irregular precipitation pattern. So, the present study was focussed on the variation in the expression pattern of the AQP1 gene in the skin fibroblast cells of the animal at different temperature and different temperature- hypoosmotic conditions. The overall expression was found to be lower in both the breeds with much lower expression in the Barbari breed. There was a significant (p<0.05) variation in the expression of the AQP1gene between the breeds at higher temperature, normal temperature with hypoosmotic condition, and high temperature with hypoosmotic conditions. The comparatively lower expression in Barbari breed and higher expression in Sirohi breed at higher temperature with hypoosmotic condition depicts the less water stress affected by the Sirohi breed, indicating its drought adaptability. The study indicates that the Sirohi breed are well adapted to thrive in water deficit areas as compared to the Barbari breed utilising their inherent genetic adaptation on water balance. The studies may help the policy makers in deciding cross breeding policies for future era of droughts and climatic shifts.

Keywords

AQP1, Barbari, Sirohi, water stress, hypoosmotic

Conclusion

The present study concluded that AQP1 genes are expressed in the skin fibroblast cells of goat. The expression of AQP1 is generally lower in both the Barbari and Sirohi breed with lowest expression in the Barbari breed. The Barbari breed showed lowest expression during hypo-osmotic stress at higher temperature as the concerned gene specifically transports water, which may be a mechanism for water conservation The Sirohi breed despite of the hypo-osmotic condition increased the expression of the AQP1, shows its thermotolerance and water scarce adaptability suggesting that the Sirohi breed can be bred easily in future era of erratic climate change.

References

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How to cite this article

Femi Francis, Ashutosh, Ditty Maria Dominic and Namratha Valsalan (2023). An Experimental Study on AQP1 expression in Skin Fibroblast Cells of Native Goat Breeds in Water Stress conditions. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 1424-1427.