Functional study and regional mapping of 44 hormono-regulated genes isolated from a porcine granulosa cell library

cDNA clones from a pig granulosa cell cDNA library were isolated by (differential hybridisation for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) regulation in granulosa cells in a previous study. The clones that did not match any known sequence were studied for their expression in granulosa cells (treated or not by FSH) and in fresh isolated ovarian follicles mainly by comparative RT-PCR analysis. These results give functional data on genes that may be implicated in follicular growing. These ESTs have been localised on the porcine genome, using a somatic cell hybrid panel, providing new type I markers on the porcine map and information on the comparative map between humans and pigs.