Expression of skin color genes in lymphocytes of Karan Fries cattle and seasonal relationship with tyrosinase and cortisol

To evaluate difference in the expression of skin color genes (melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and premelanosome (PMEL)) in lymphocytes during winter and summer season and their correlation with tyrosinase enzyme and cortisol, ten Karan-Fries heifers were selected from National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) cattle farm. Blood samples were collected from the animals during winter (THI?=?60) and summer (THI?=?83) season at weekly intervals. Relative MC1R and PMEL messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Karan Fries cattle was found to be significantly (P?P?P?