Molecular characterization of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene in the Indian river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a central role in regulation of ovarian function in mammals. The actions of follicle stimulating hormone are mediated through receptors present on the granulosa cells of the ovary. In the present study we have cloned and characterized the FSHR gene of buffalo. Sequence analysis indicated that the buffalo FSHR cDNA sequence comprised of an open reading frame of 2085 bp encoding a 695 amino acid protein. Its nucleotide sequence showed more than 80% similarity to the homologous genes of mammalian species. At amino acid level buffalo FSHR exhibited a high percentage (84–96.7%) of identity with the corresponding mammalian homologs. This is the first isolation and characterization of FSHR cDNA from buffalo ovary.