The genetic control of erythrocyte reduced glutathione in Australian Merino sheep

Abstract

SUMMARYThe genetic control of the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the erythrocytes of pure bred Australian Merino sheep has been investigated. The data suggest that the erythrocyte GSH levels are in part controlled by a single pair of autosomal alleles, the gene for GSH-high (GSHH) being dominant.The data also suggest that the levels of erythrocyte GSH within the GSH-high and GSH-low types are the result of polygenic influences. Heritability estimates of 0·7 and 0·5 within the GSH-high type and 1·2 in the GSH-low type support this suggestion.