Abstract Prolactin receptor（PRLR）gene was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats. Eight pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of exon 3 to exon 9 and intron 9 of PRLR gene in both high fecundity breed (Jining Grey goat) and low fecundity breeds (Liaoning Cashmere goat and Angora goat) by PCR-SSCP. Only the products amplified by primer P8 amplifying the intron 9 displayed polymorphisms. For primer P8, only two genotypes (AA and AB) were detected in three goat breeds. Sequencing revealed one mutation (209A→G) of PRLR gene in the genotype AB in comparison to the genotype AA, and this mutation was situated in intron 9 of PRLR gene. The difference of the least squares means for litter size between AA and AB was non-significant (P>0.05) in Jining Grey goats. These results preliminarily showed that these detected loci of PRLR gene had no significant effect on prolificacy of Jining Grey goats.
