Associations of BMPR-IB genotypes with mineral metabolism indicors in romanov sheep

The aim of this work was to study the associations of BMPR-IB gene polymorphism with the concentration of macroelements (Na, Mg, K) in the blood serum of Romanov sheep. The level of macroelements in animal organs and tissues is one of the important indicators for a comprehensive characterization of the interior. The BMPR-IB gene, which encodes a receptor for bone morphogenetic proteins, plays a key role in reproductive function; however, its influence on mineral metabolism has not been sufficiently studied. The study used a sample of sheep (n = 58) kept under the same conditions and on a standard diet. Using PCR-RFLP and non-parametric statistics, statistically significant differences in sodium concentration between the ++ and M+ genotypes were revealed (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.00192; Dunn’s post-hoc test, p = 0.0014). It was found that heterozygous (M+) animals had a significantly higher sodium concentration by 43 % (136.30 vs. 95.15 mmol/L) compared to wild-type homozygotes (++), with a large effect size (r = 0.54). The statistical significance remained after correction for multiple comparisons (p_FDR = 0.0058). No significant associations with the genotype were found for magnesium and potassium. The obtained data indicate a pleiotropic effect of the BMPR-IB gene on mineral metabolism and reveal the potential of using the M+ genotype as a molecular marker in breeding programs for optimizing the metabolic status of sheep. The identified association suggests a possible involvement of this gene in the regulation of kidney function and water-salt homeostasis, opening new directions for fundamental research in animal physiology. The results of the work emphasize the importance of comprehensive study of genetic markers for developing effective breeding strategies for farm animals.