ABSTRACT: The transcription factor csal1 is an important molecule that plays a critical regulatory function in ovarian follicle development, as confirmed by our previous data. However, the candidate genes of csal1 and its regulatory mechanism remain poorly understood in the granulosa cells (GCs) of chicken prehierarchical follicles (PFs). Six transcriptomes of csal1 and empty vector were analyzed in Chinese Dagu hens by RNA sequencing. Six cDNA libraries were constructed, with more than 42 million clean reads and 16,779 unigenes. Of these 16,779 unigenes, 2,762 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in GCs, including 1,605 upregulated and 1,157 downregulated unigenes. Fourteen genes, including BMP5, TACR2, AMH, PLAG1, MYOD1, BOP1, SIPA1, NOTCH1, BCL2L1, SOX9, ADGRA2, WNT5A, SLC7A11, and GA
