Polymorphisms of the ATP1A1 gene associated with mastitis in dairy cattle
Mastitis affects the concentrations of potassium and sodium in milk. Since sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) is critical for maintaining the homeostasis of these two ions, and is involved in cell apoptosis and pathogenesis, we presumed that polymorphism of the ATP1A1 gene, which encodes the bovine Na+, K+-ATPase α1 subunit could be associated with mastitis.