Cooperative Effects of FOXL2 with the Members of TGF-β Superfamily on FSH Receptor mRNA Expression and Granulosa Cell Proliferation from Hen Prehierarchical Follicles.

Forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) is a member of the forkhead nuclear factor 3 gene family and plays an essential role in ovarian growth and maturation in mammals. However, its potential effects and regulative mechanism in development of chicken ovarian prehierarchical follicles remain unexplored. In this study, the cooperative effects of FOXL2 with activin A, growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) and follistatin, three members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily that were previously suggested to exert a critical role in follicle development was investigated.

Genetic variation within exon 2 of the MHC B-LB // gene in Tibetan chicken.

Genetic variation within exon 2 of chicken major histocompatibility complex B-LB // genes was investigated by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of a 374 bp fragment of the indigenous Tibetan chicken genomic DNA. Fifteen novel B-LB // alleles were found. Alignment and comparison of 18 allelic sequences from the individuals sampled revealed a total of 62 variable sites (total of 80 mutations) in exon 2, of which 41 were parsimony informative sites.