“…In this regard, higher expression of EGFR was detected in the granulosa layer of 10‐mm follicles, theca interna of 20‐ and 30‐mm follicles, and in the whole follicle wall of all follicle classes during the SOV season. Previous studies have shown the importance of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) for oocyte maturation in mares (Goudet, Belin, Bézard, & Gérard, ; Lorenzo, Liu, Carneiro, Conley, & Enders, ), cows (Harper & Brackett, ; Lorenzo, Illera, Illera, & Illera, ), and sows (Ding & Foxcroft, ; Reed, Estrada, Illera, & Petters, ). Furthermore, the association of EGF and FSH has been reported to stimulate antral and preantral follicle growth in mares, cows, goats, and sows (Aguiar et al, ; Celestino et al, ; Gastal et al, ; Gutierrez, Ralph, Telfer, Wilmut, & Webb, ; Silva et al, ; Wu & Tian, ; Zhou & Zhang, ).…”