In silico analysis of gene expression in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles in two species of bovines

Buffaloes and cattle are two species of bovines with great similarity in their reproductive physiology, but at the same time with great difference in their reproductive parameters. The objective of this work is to compare gene expression in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of these two species, based on information available in the literature, existing transcriptome repositories and functional analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Only two independent studies comparing buffalo and cattle in terms of gene expression in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles were found. Expression data were analyzed independently and in combination. It was found that, between buffaloes and cattle, there is practically no correspondence between the processes evaluated, neither in the canonical pathways, nor in the upstream regulators, only some correspondence is found between the networks and physiological aspects of each process. It is concluded that each species has a different way of carrying out the same process and that each event should be studied according to the needs of the researchers.