Modulation of the steroidogenic related activity according to the design of single-chain bovine FSH analogs.

•We designed bovine single-chain FSH analogs with structural variations.•Secretion of the analogs from transfected cells was similar.•Progesterone biosynthesis in differed in vitro in response to the analogs.•The analogs showed dissimilar bioactivity in mice as judged by ovarian weight gain.•Different effects on transcript levels of aromatase, SCC and StAR were detected.