The Experts below are selected from a list of 279 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Janice M. Bahr - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chicken Granulosa Cells Show Differential Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Receptor Messenger RNA and Differential Responsiveness to EGF and LH Dependent upon Location of Granulosa Cells to the Germinal Disc1
2016Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:Granulosa cells in the chicken follicle exhibit different phe-notypes according to their location relative to the Germinal Disc (GD). Granulosa cells proximal to the GD (referred to as prox-imal granulosa cells) are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD (referred to as distal granulosa cells) are more differentiated. We have shown that epidermal growth fac-tor (EGF) derived from the GD stimulated proliferation of gran-ulosa cells proximal to the GD, whereas extraovarian LH pro-moted differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that phenotypic differences of granulosa cells are the result of differential re-sponsiveness of granulosa cells to EGF and LH. We found that both granulosa and theca layers of chicken preovulatory follicles expressed mRNA for EGF receptor (EGFr) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. However, only the granulosa laye
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Germinal Disc-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor: A Paracrine Factor to Stimulate Proliferation of Granulosa Cells1
2016Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc (GD) of the chicken oocyte produces fac-tors that influence proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD are more differentiated. Previously, we had found epidermal growth factor (EGF) was present in the GD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that EGF is the GD-derived paracrine factor that stimulates prolif-eration of granulosa cells. Northern analysis, reverse transcrip-tion-polymerase chain reaction, and radioimmunoassay indicat-ed that the GD and granulosa cells but not theca cells are the sources of EGF in chicken preovulatory follicles. However, only the conditioned medium from the GD region (GDR 5 GD 1 overlying granulosa cells) but not the granulosa cell-conditioned medium stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells. Pretreatment of conditioned media with EGF antibody abolished the prolif-eration-stimulating effect of the GDR-conditioned medium. We conclude that EGF is one of the paracrine factors produced by the GD to stimulate proliferation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD express a proliferative phenotype pos-sibly because they are exposed to a greater amount of EGF de-rived from the GD. follicle, granulosa cells, growth factors, ovary, ovu
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Chicken granulosa cells show differential expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor messenger RNA and differential responsiveness to EGF and LH dependent upon location of granulosa cells to the Germinal Disc.
Biology of reproduction, 2001Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:Granulosa cells in the chicken follicle exhibit different phenotypes according to their location relative to the Germinal Disc (GD). Granulosa cells proximal to the GD (referred to as proximal granulosa cells) are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD (referred to as distal granulosa cells) are more differentiated. We have shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) derived from the GD stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells proximal to the GD, whereas extraovarian LH promoted differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that phenotypic differences of granulosa cells are the result of differential responsiveness of granulosa cells to EGF and LH. We found that both granulosa and theca layers of chicken preovulatory follicles expressed mRNA for EGF receptor (EGFr) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. However, only the granulosa layer showed differential expression of EGFr and LH receptor (LHr) mRNA. Competitive reverse transcription-PCR revealed that proximal granulosa cells expressed more EGFr mRNA but less LHr mRNA than distal granulosa cells. In addition, proximal granulosa cells proliferated more in response to EGF than their distal counterparts. We further demonstrated that EGF decreased LHr mRNA expression by granulosa cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EGF and LH had no effect on EGFr mRNA expression except at one dose of LH (15 ng/ml) that stimulated EGFr mRNA expression. Our findings suggest that EGF derived from the GD influences the phenotypes of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD exhibit a proliferative phenotype possibly because they are exposed to and are more responsive to GD-derived EGF. Furthermore, GD-derived EGF decreases LHr mRNA expression by proximal granulosa cells and therefore results in less differentiated granulosa cell phenotype. In contrast, granulosa cells distal to the GD are not under the influence of EGF and exhibit a more differentiated phenotype.
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Germinal Disc-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor: A Paracrine Factor to Stimulate Proliferation of Granulosa Cells
Biology of reproduction, 2001Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc (GD) of the chicken oocyte produces factors that influence proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD are more differentiated. Previously, we had found epidermal growth factor (EGF) was present in the GD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that EGF is the GD-derived paracrine factor that stimulates proliferation of granulosa cells. Northern analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and radioimmunoassay indicated that the GD and granulosa cells but not theca cells are the sources of EGF in chicken preovulatory follicles. However, only the conditioned medium from the GD region (GDR = GD + overlying granulosa cells) but not the granulosa cell-conditioned medium stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells. Pretreatment of conditioned media with EGF antibody abolished the proliferation-stimulating effect of the GDR-conditioned medium. We conclude that EGF is one of the paracrine factors produced by the GD to stimulate proliferation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD express a proliferative phenotype possibly because they are exposed to a greater amount of EGF derived from the GD.
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Epidermal Growth Factor in the Germinal Disc and Its Potential Role in Follicular Development in the Chicken
Biology of reproduction, 1998Co-Authors: Kendra K. Volentine, Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc region (GDR; Germinal Disc + overlying granulosa cells) of the hen's ovarian follicle secretes one or more factors that stimulate proliferation of, and decrease progesterone (P 4 ) production by, granulosa cells. Destruction of the GDR results in apoptosis and atresia of the follicle. These data suggested that the GDR produces a growth factor(s) to sustain the development of the follicle. These findings prompted us to investigate two questions: 1) Is epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor α (TGFα), which binds to the EGF receptor, present in the GDR? 2) Does EGF regulate granulosa cell functions in the hen? Immunocytochemistry revealed that EGF, but not TGFα, was present in the Germinal Disc of the four largest preovulatory follicles of the hen. TGFα was found only in the theca interna. To determine whether EGF regulates granulosa cell functions, granulosa layer explants (13 mm in diameter) from the second-largest preovulatory follicle were cultured for 36 h with 0, 0.017, or 0.17 μM EGF. Proliferation, apoptosis, and P 4 production of granulosa layer explants were then measured by using a colorimetric method for determining viable cell number, gel electrophoresis, and RIA, respectively. EGF regulates several functions of granulosa layer explants by stimulating proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and decreasing basal P 4 production. These data indicate that EGF is present in the Germinal Disc and may be one of the factors that regulate follicular development in the hen.
Humphrey H.-c. Yao - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chicken Granulosa Cells Show Differential Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Receptor Messenger RNA and Differential Responsiveness to EGF and LH Dependent upon Location of Granulosa Cells to the Germinal Disc1
2016Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:Granulosa cells in the chicken follicle exhibit different phe-notypes according to their location relative to the Germinal Disc (GD). Granulosa cells proximal to the GD (referred to as prox-imal granulosa cells) are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD (referred to as distal granulosa cells) are more differentiated. We have shown that epidermal growth fac-tor (EGF) derived from the GD stimulated proliferation of gran-ulosa cells proximal to the GD, whereas extraovarian LH pro-moted differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that phenotypic differences of granulosa cells are the result of differential re-sponsiveness of granulosa cells to EGF and LH. We found that both granulosa and theca layers of chicken preovulatory follicles expressed mRNA for EGF receptor (EGFr) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. However, only the granulosa laye
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Germinal Disc-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor: A Paracrine Factor to Stimulate Proliferation of Granulosa Cells1
2016Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc (GD) of the chicken oocyte produces fac-tors that influence proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD are more differentiated. Previously, we had found epidermal growth factor (EGF) was present in the GD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that EGF is the GD-derived paracrine factor that stimulates prolif-eration of granulosa cells. Northern analysis, reverse transcrip-tion-polymerase chain reaction, and radioimmunoassay indicat-ed that the GD and granulosa cells but not theca cells are the sources of EGF in chicken preovulatory follicles. However, only the conditioned medium from the GD region (GDR 5 GD 1 overlying granulosa cells) but not the granulosa cell-conditioned medium stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells. Pretreatment of conditioned media with EGF antibody abolished the prolif-eration-stimulating effect of the GDR-conditioned medium. We conclude that EGF is one of the paracrine factors produced by the GD to stimulate proliferation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD express a proliferative phenotype pos-sibly because they are exposed to a greater amount of EGF de-rived from the GD. follicle, granulosa cells, growth factors, ovary, ovu
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Chicken granulosa cells show differential expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor messenger RNA and differential responsiveness to EGF and LH dependent upon location of granulosa cells to the Germinal Disc.
Biology of reproduction, 2001Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:Granulosa cells in the chicken follicle exhibit different phenotypes according to their location relative to the Germinal Disc (GD). Granulosa cells proximal to the GD (referred to as proximal granulosa cells) are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD (referred to as distal granulosa cells) are more differentiated. We have shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) derived from the GD stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells proximal to the GD, whereas extraovarian LH promoted differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that phenotypic differences of granulosa cells are the result of differential responsiveness of granulosa cells to EGF and LH. We found that both granulosa and theca layers of chicken preovulatory follicles expressed mRNA for EGF receptor (EGFr) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. However, only the granulosa layer showed differential expression of EGFr and LH receptor (LHr) mRNA. Competitive reverse transcription-PCR revealed that proximal granulosa cells expressed more EGFr mRNA but less LHr mRNA than distal granulosa cells. In addition, proximal granulosa cells proliferated more in response to EGF than their distal counterparts. We further demonstrated that EGF decreased LHr mRNA expression by granulosa cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EGF and LH had no effect on EGFr mRNA expression except at one dose of LH (15 ng/ml) that stimulated EGFr mRNA expression. Our findings suggest that EGF derived from the GD influences the phenotypes of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD exhibit a proliferative phenotype possibly because they are exposed to and are more responsive to GD-derived EGF. Furthermore, GD-derived EGF decreases LHr mRNA expression by proximal granulosa cells and therefore results in less differentiated granulosa cell phenotype. In contrast, granulosa cells distal to the GD are not under the influence of EGF and exhibit a more differentiated phenotype.
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Germinal Disc-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor: A Paracrine Factor to Stimulate Proliferation of Granulosa Cells
Biology of reproduction, 2001Co-Authors: Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc (GD) of the chicken oocyte produces factors that influence proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD are more proliferative, whereas granulosa cells distal to the GD are more differentiated. Previously, we had found epidermal growth factor (EGF) was present in the GD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that EGF is the GD-derived paracrine factor that stimulates proliferation of granulosa cells. Northern analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and radioimmunoassay indicated that the GD and granulosa cells but not theca cells are the sources of EGF in chicken preovulatory follicles. However, only the conditioned medium from the GD region (GDR = GD + overlying granulosa cells) but not the granulosa cell-conditioned medium stimulated proliferation of granulosa cells. Pretreatment of conditioned media with EGF antibody abolished the proliferation-stimulating effect of the GDR-conditioned medium. We conclude that EGF is one of the paracrine factors produced by the GD to stimulate proliferation of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells proximal to the GD express a proliferative phenotype possibly because they are exposed to a greater amount of EGF derived from the GD.
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Epidermal Growth Factor in the Germinal Disc and Its Potential Role in Follicular Development in the Chicken
Biology of reproduction, 1998Co-Authors: Kendra K. Volentine, Humphrey H.-c. Yao, Janice M. BahrAbstract:The Germinal Disc region (GDR; Germinal Disc + overlying granulosa cells) of the hen's ovarian follicle secretes one or more factors that stimulate proliferation of, and decrease progesterone (P 4 ) production by, granulosa cells. Destruction of the GDR results in apoptosis and atresia of the follicle. These data suggested that the GDR produces a growth factor(s) to sustain the development of the follicle. These findings prompted us to investigate two questions: 1) Is epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor α (TGFα), which binds to the EGF receptor, present in the GDR? 2) Does EGF regulate granulosa cell functions in the hen? Immunocytochemistry revealed that EGF, but not TGFα, was present in the Germinal Disc of the four largest preovulatory follicles of the hen. TGFα was found only in the theca interna. To determine whether EGF regulates granulosa cell functions, granulosa layer explants (13 mm in diameter) from the second-largest preovulatory follicle were cultured for 36 h with 0, 0.017, or 0.17 μM EGF. Proliferation, apoptosis, and P 4 production of granulosa layer explants were then measured by using a colorimetric method for determining viable cell number, gel electrophoresis, and RIA, respectively. EGF regulates several functions of granulosa layer explants by stimulating proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and decreasing basal P 4 production. These data indicate that EGF is present in the Germinal Disc and may be one of the factors that regulate follicular development in the hen.
Tsukasa Matsuda - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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glycosylated chicken zp2 accumulates in the egg coat of immature oocytes and remains localized to the Germinal Disc region of mature eggs
Biology of Reproduction, 2014Co-Authors: Shunsuke Nishio, Yoshinori Kohno, Yuki Iwata, Mayumi Arai, Hiroki Okumura, Kenzi Oshima, Daita Nadano, Tsukasa MatsudaAbstract:ABSTRACT Vertebrate eggs are surrounded by an egg coat, which is a specific extracellular egg matrix consisting of several glycoproteins with a conserved zona pellucida (ZP) domain. Two mammalian egg coat subunits, ZP2 and ZP3, have been suggested to act as sperm receptors. In bird eggs, however, ZP2 has never been identified in the egg coat of mature oocytes and ovulated eggs. Here we report that chicken ZP2 is expressed in immature small follicles and remains as an egg-coat component locally in the Germinal Disc region of mature eggs. RT-PCR analysis indicated marked expression of the ZP2 and ZP4 genes in the granulosa cells of immature white follicles, whereas the ZP3 and ZPD genes showed marked expression in the cells of maturing yellow follicles. ZP2 was identified in the egg coat isolated from immature follicles as a heavily N-glycosylated glycoprotein of ∼200 kDa, which was enzymatically converted to a 70-kDa deglycosylated form. Immunoblotting and immunohistological analyses showed that ZP2 was lo...
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Glycosylated Chicken ZP2 Accumulates in the Egg Coat of Immature Oocytes and Remains Localized to the Germinal Disc Region of Mature Eggs
Biology of reproduction, 2014Co-Authors: Shunsuke Nishio, Yoshinori Kohno, Yuki Iwata, Mayumi Arai, Hiroki Okumura, Kenzi Oshima, Daita Nadano, Tsukasa MatsudaAbstract:Vertebrate eggs are surrounded by an egg coat, which is a specific extracellular egg matrix consisting of several glycoproteins with a conserved zona pellucida (ZP) domain. Two mammalian egg coat subunits, ZP2 and ZP3, have been suggested to act as sperm receptors. In bird eggs, however, ZP2 has never been identified in the egg coat of mature oocytes and ovulated eggs. Here we report that chicken ZP2 is expressed in immature small follicles and remains as an egg-coat component locally in the Germinal Disc region of mature eggs. RT-PCR analysis indicated marked expression of the ZP2 and ZP4 genes in the granulosa cells of immature white follicles, whereas the ZP3 and ZPD genes showed marked expression in the cells of maturing yellow follicles. ZP2 was identified in the egg coat isolated from immature follicles as a heavily N-glycosylated glycoprotein of ∼200 kDa, which was enzymatically converted to a 70-kDa deglycosylated form. Immunoblotting and immunohistological analyses showed that ZP2 was localized around the Germinal Disc region of mature follicles. ZP2 was accumulated in the egg coat of immature white follicles at the earlier stages of oocyte development and became a minor component in the egg coat of maturing yellow follicles, except for the Germinal Disc region. Localization of ZP2 in the Germinal Disc region of mature eggs, where sperm bind to the egg coat at high density, suggests some role for ZP2 in the preferential binding and penetration of sperm in the Germinal Disc region of bird eggs.
Kristen J. Navara - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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corticosterone and testosterone treatment influence expression of gene pathways linked to meiotic segregation in preovulatory follicles of the domestic hen
PLOS ONE, 2020Co-Authors: Elizabeth R. Wrobel, Mary T. Mendonça, Alexandra B Bentz, Walter W Lorenz, Stephen T Gardner, Kristen J. NavaraAbstract:Decades of work indicate that female birds can control their offspring sex ratios in response to environmental and social cues. In laying hens, hormones administered immediately prior to sex chromosome segregation can exert sex ratio skews, indicating that these hormones may act directly on the Germinal Disc to influence which sex chromosome is retained in the oocyte and which is Discarded into an unfertilizable polar body. We aimed to uncover the gene pathways involved in this process by testing whether treatments with testosterone or corticosterone that were previously shown to influence sex ratios elicit changes in the expression of genes and/or gene pathways involved in the process of meiotic segregation. We injected laying hens with testosterone, corticosterone, or control oil 5h prior to ovulation and collected Germinal Discs from the F1 preovulatory follicle in each hen 1.5h after injection. We used RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) followed by DESeq2 and gene set enrichment analyses to identify genes and gene pathways that were differentially expressed between Germinal Discs of control and hormone-treated hens. Corticosterone treatment triggered downregulation of 13 individual genes, as well as enrichment of gene sets related to meiotic spindle organization and chromosome segregation, and additional gene sets that function in ion transport. Testosterone treatment triggered upregulation of one gene, and enrichment of one gene set that functions in nuclear chromosome segregation. This work indicates that corticosterone can be a potent regulator of meiotic processes and provides potential gene targets on which corticosterone and/or testosterone may act to influence offspring sex ratios in birds.
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Androgen and mineralocorticoid receptors are present on the Germinal Disc region in laying hens: Potential mediators of sex ratio adjustment in birds?
General and comparative endocrinology, 2019Co-Authors: Elizabeth R. Wrobel, Erica M. Molina, Nicola Y. Khan, Benson T. Akingbemi, Mary T. Mendonça, Kristen J. NavaraAbstract:Abstract Female birds skew offspring sex ratios based on environmental and social stimuli; however, the mechanism mediating this phenomenon remains unknown. Growing evidence suggests that testosterone and corticosterone may influence meiosis, as they skew sex ratios when given immediately before chromosomal segregation. It is unclear if these hormones act on the Germinal Disc (GD) or through a downstream mediator. It is also unknown whether the GD contains receptors for these hormones. If testosterone and/or corticosterone act on the GD to skew sex ratios, then the GD should have receptors for them and that receptor levels should be higher in the GD regions compared to other follicular regions. Furthermore, fluctuations of receptor levels should occur near meiotic segregation. We collected ovarian follicles at 5 h pre-ovulation (just before meiotic segregation) and 20 h pre-ovulation (when sex chromosomes are arrested), and measured androgen receptor (AR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) protein levels via Western blot. ARs and MRs were on the follicle in the GD and non-GD regions, and at 5 h and 20 h pre-ovulation. Both AR and MR protein levels were higher in the GD region than the non-GD region at both time points, but did not differ between time points. These results suggest that hen ovarian follicles have receptors for testosterone and corticosterone, and that the ability for testosterone to respond may be specifically higher in the GD-region, providing further support for the role of testosterone in the alteration of meiotic segregation.
Marina S Govoroun - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Search for the genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryo development in the hen-0
2011Co-Authors: Sebastien Elis, Florence Batellier, Isabelle Couty, Sandrine Balzergue, Marie-laure Martin-magniette, Philippe Monget, Elisabeth Blesbois, Marina S GovorounAbstract:cells (GCs). Inside the oocyte, the perivitelline membrane is covered by extra-embryonic RNA. At the top of the oocyte, the Germinal Disc (GD) is visible. The GD with the overlying GCs constituted the Germinal Disc region (GDR). Two hatched area represent two different samples used in this study. The GDR comprises the GD and the lowest possible number of GCs, and GCs comprises by the GCs located in the vicinity of the GDR. Both samples are localized on the apical part of the oocyte.Copyright information:Taken from "Search for the genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryo development in the hen"http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/9/110BMC Genomics 2008;9():110-110.Published online 29 Feb 2008PMCID:PMC2322995.
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Identification of Germinal disk region derived genes potentially involved in hen fertility
Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2009Co-Authors: Sebastien Elis, Florence Batellier, Isabelle Couty, Sandrine Balzergue, Marie-laure Martin-magniette, Elisabeth Blesbois, Marina S GovorounAbstract:Despite the regular decrease in fertility observed in hens, especially in "meat" lines, little is known about genes affecting fertility. We used the Affymetrix microarray to search for oocyte genes whose expression would vary in relation to fertility rate in both "laying" and "meat" line hens. We focused on oocyte genes because several of them have been found to be involved in fertility in other species. Based on microarray analysis, 54 and 84 genes were differentially expressed between Germinal Disc regions (GDR) of F1 maturation stage oocytes from hens exhibiting either high (100%) or low (from 22% to 80%) fertility rate from laying and meat lines respectively. Most of these differentially expressed genes were distributed between "laying" and,.meat" lines indicating that mechanisms involved in the decrease in fertility rates in these two cases were independent. Real time RT-PCR performed on the same samples which were used for microarray confirmed in several cases differences in gene expression levels detected by microarray. Moreover the correlations between gene expression levels and fertility rates were evaluated for the 10 most interesting genes at different stages of follicular maturation and early embryo development on individual GDR samples from hens exhibiting different fertility rates. In total, we identified five genes whose expression levels correlated with fertility rate in accordance with findings of microarray analysis and real time RT-PCR: VWC2, CR407412, TAPA, FGL2, and TRAP6. The biological significance of these genes sheds light on potential mechanisms influencing fertility and could provide candidates for fertility markers in the hen.
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Search for the genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryo development in the hen
BMC Genomics, 2008Co-Authors: Sebastien Elis, Florence Batellier, Isabelle Couty, Sandrine Balzergue, Marie-laure Martin-magniette, Philippe Monget, Elisabeth Blesbois, Marina S GovorounAbstract:Background The initial stages of development depend on mRNA and proteins accumulated in the oocyte, and during these stages, certain genes are essential for fertilization, first cleavage and embryonic genome activation. The aim of this study was first to search for avian oocyte-specific genes using an in silico and a microarray approaches, then to investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of the expression of some of these genes during follicular maturation and early embryogenesis. Results The in silico approach allowed us to identify 18 chicken homologs of mouse potential oocyte genes found by digital differential display. Using the chicken Affymetrix microarray, we identified 461 genes overexpressed in granulosa cells (GCs) and 250 genes overexpressed in the Germinal Disc (GD) of the hen oocyte. Six genes were identified using both in silico and microarray approaches. Based on GO annotations, GC and GD genes were differentially involved in biological processes, reflecting different physiological destinations of these two cell layers. Finally we studied the spatial and temporal dynamics of the expression of 21 chicken genes. According to their expression patterns all these genes are involved in different stages of final follicular maturation and/or early embryogenesis in the chicken. Among them, 8 genes ( btg4 , chkmos , wee , zpA , dazL , cvh , zar1 and ktfn) were preferentially expressed in the maturing occyte and cvh , zar1 and ktfn were also highly expressed in the early embryo. Conclusion We showed that in silico and Affymetrix microarray approaches were relevant and complementary in order to find new avian genes potentially involved in oocyte maturation and/or early embryo development, and allowed the Discovery of new potential chicken mature oocyte and chicken granulosa cell markers for future studies. Moreover, detailed study of the expression of some of these genes revealed promising candidates for maternal effect genes in the chicken. Finally, the finding concerning the different state of rRNA compared to that of mRNA during the postovulatory period shed light on some mechanisms through which oocyte to embryo transition occurs in the hen.