Differentially regulated genes in -mutant rat granulosa cells.

RNA seq analyses were performed in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from gonadotropin treated ESR2 mutant rats. Data obtained from a null mutant with exon 3 deletion (∆3) and another DNA binding domain (DBD) mutant with exon 4 deletion (∆4) were compared to that of wildtype (WT) rats. The raw data were analyzed using CLC genomics workbench.

ESR2 regulates granulosa cell genes essential for follicle maturation and ovulation.

Estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) plays a critical role in folliculogenesis and ovulation. Disruption of ESR2-function in the rats results in female infertility due to failure of ovulation. Ovulation failure occurred in two distinct rat models, a null mutant and a DNA binding domain (DBD) mutant of ESR2, indicating that transcriptional regulation by ESR2 is indispensable for ovulation.