Global Veterinaria 13 (5): 680-689, 2014 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.13.05.8698 Corresponding Author: Emtenan M. Hanafi, Department of Animal Reproduction &AI, National Research Center, Postal Code: 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. Tel: +201224140107. 680 Genomics Control of Folliculogenesis in Animals with Emphasis to Buffaloes Emtenan M. Hanafy, W.M. Ahmed, M.M. Zaabal and H.H. El khadrawy Department of Animal Reproduction &AI, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt Abstract: Reproductive efficiency is high priority in all breeding systems and required more critical studies for its understanding especially in poor and seasonal breeder subjects.Geneticsis the main pillar for the selection of genetically superior animals that can pass their desired traits to their offspring. Molecular biology has led to the generation of techniques and knowledge that assist and complement the traditional system of genetic improvement. Recently, there is a progress in the elucidation of factors regulating oocyte and follicle growth and development, as well as oocyte maturation, through the study of the crucial roles of a large number of proteins expressed throughout oogenesis, in particular during the early stages of folliculogenesis . The present article skimmed most of recent studies carried on the role of genomics to control the animal fertility and enumerates some fertility markers that may help to improve the reproductive performance of cows and buffaloes, especially the later that. Light was thrown on roles of transforming growth factors(TGF), gonadotropins ( FSH and LH),steroids, Cytochrome p450 controls sex steroid synthesis and metabolism,Insulin growth factor (IGF)and Leptin. It was concluded that more researches are required to understand this mechanism, especially in poor and/ or seasonal breeders such as buffaloes in order to ameliorate their productive potentials. Key words: Genomics Folliculogenesis Animals Buffaloes INTRODUCTION studies on the quantitative characteristics of zootechnical Reproductive efficiency is high priority in all advances, mainly due to the development of methods for breeding systems, especially in seasonal breeders as the the analysis of genetic material using a large number of opportunity for mating and getting the female pregnant is samples, with consequent cost reduction [4]. Also, there time limited [1]. Consequently, one of the great challenges is a progress in the elucidation of factors regulating of the underling biologists is to gain an understanding of oocyte and follicle growth and development, as well as the underlying biology of the buffalo cow that contributes oocyte maturation, through the study of the crucial roles to low fertility and develop strategies to improve fertility. of a large number of proteins expressed throughout The breeding program is one of the most important oogenesis, in particular during the early stages of technologies used in the production process, which folliculogenesis [5]. consider genetics the main pillar or instrument when it The present article skimmed most of recent studies comes to the selection of genetically superior animals that carried on the role of genomics to control the animal can pass their desired traits to their offspring. This breed fertility and enumerates some fertility markers that may is used extensively in many countriesdue to its great help to improve the reproductive performance of cows potential for production, rusticity and adaptation to and buffaloes, especially the later that has been various environmental conditions [2]. traditionally regarded as a poor breeder [1]. Currently, research in molecular biology has led to In the last decade, a substantial progress has been the generation of techniques and knowledge that made in the elucidationof factors regulating oocyte and assist and complement the traditional system of genetic follicular growth and development,as well as oocyte improvement, intensifying research on the occurrence of maturation, through the study of the crucial roles of a different types of molecular markers in the bovine large number of proteins expressed throughout genome, in order to provide more information to assist oogenesis, in particular during the early stages of interest [3]. Recently, molecular genetics has shown great