ESR2 Regulates Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Steroidogenesis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Wuding Chickens.

ABSTRACT: The Wuding chicken, a renowned indigenous breed in Yunnan Province, is prized for its superior meat quality; however, its economic potential is limited by pronounced broodiness and suboptimal egg production. Central to alleviating these constraints is the precise regulation of ovarian granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and steroidogenic processes that dictate follicular development and laying performance. While Estrogen Receptor 2 (ESR2) is a known transcription factor implicated in follicular maturation, its spatiotemporal dynamics within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis and its specific regulatory mechanisms in Wuding chicken remain elusive. This study characterizes ESR2 expression across the HPO axis during the laying and broody periods and functionally validates its

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12937930 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature