Expression data from ad libitum or restricted fed 16-week old broiler breeder hens

Ovarian dysfunction is observed in broiler breeder hens fed ad libitum that is most apparent by a reduction in fertility success. Restricting caloric intake in these hens is currently the only effective treatment to improve reproductive efficiency. This analysis sought to determine the transcriptional changes in the ovarian cortex of prepubertal hens given full access to feed (FF) or were placed on a restricted feed (RF) diet. Microarrays were employed to detail the differences in global gene expression that underlie the ovarian dysfunction observed in ad libitum fed hens. Broiler breeder hens at 2 weeks were either given full access to feed (FF) or were placed on restricted feeding (RF). At 16 weeks of age animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and ovaries extracted for RNA expression analysis.