卵泡发育与鹌鹑的产蛋性能密切相关，直接影响鹌鹑蛋的产量和鹌鹑的养殖效益。颗粒细胞的增殖分化在卵泡发育过程中发挥至关重要的作用，是卵泡发育的标志，但其对家禽卵泡发育的作用机制尚不甚明确。申请者前期研究结果和文献报道显示，EGFR基因在卵巢及卵泡发育过程中发挥重要的调控作用，本研究旨在构建EGFR及其转录因子GATA-4在鹌鹑卵泡颗粒细胞增殖分化中的表达调控网络。首先分离培养卵泡颗粒细胞的原代细胞，并在此基础上分析EGFR对颗粒细胞增殖分化、激素水平的影响；其次从分子和细胞水平研究转录因子GATA-4的对EGFR的转录调控作用、EGFR与GATA-4及由此介导的MAPK/ERK信号通路在颗粒细胞增殖分化中的调控作用；最终解析EGFR介导MAPK/ERK信号通路调控鹌鹑卵泡颗粒细胞增殖分化的分子机制，为鹌鹑育种与生产提供理论依据和新思路。

Follicular development is closely related to the laying performance of quail, and it is directly affects the quail egg production and breeding benefit, is the symbol of follicular development. Proliferation and differentiation of granular cells are important for follicular development, but the specific mechanism of granular cells on the development of the poultry follicle is still unclear. The previous experimental result of the applicant and reports shows that EGFR play important roles in follicular development. The aim of this study is to construct regulation network of EGFR gene and its transcription factor GATA-4 in proliferation and differentiation of quail granular cells. First,The follicular granule cells are dissected from ovary of adult quails and primary cultured. On the basis of establishing the quail follicular granular cell, we will study the effect of EGFR on proliferation, differentiation and hormone levels of quail follicular granular cells. And then, at molecular and cellular levels, we will study the transcriptional regulation of GATA-4 to EGFR, the target relationship between GATA-4 and EGFR gene and the regulation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in proliferation and differentiation of granular cells. Eventually, we will parse the EGFR mediated MAPK/ERK signaling pathway regulate proliferation and differentiation of quail granular cells. Clarify this scientific problem will be providing theoretical basis and new ideas for quail breeding and laying production.