Integrative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Role of Melatonin in Promoting Secondary Hair Follicle Development in Cashmere Goats

    February 2025 in “ BMC Genomics
    Xiaogao Diao, Jiaxin Qin, Chenxi Dong, Liwen He, Wei Zhang
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    Studysummary This study found that in cashmere goats, melatonin treatments enhanced cashmere growth by stimulating secondary hair follicles, increasing follicle density, and improving yield and quality, highlighting key genes and metabolic pathways involved in this process.
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    This study on 24 female adult Inner Mongolia white cashmere goats demonstrates that melatonin significantly enhances secondary hair follicle development, leading to improved cashmere quality and yield. Melatonin-treated goats showed finer and longer fibers, increased cashmere yield, and higher secondary hair follicle density. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed 509 differentially expressed genes and numerous metabolites, with significant changes in pathways related to hair follicle development, such as the WNT and FOXO signaling pathways. The findings suggest that melatonin enhances cashmere production by modulating gene expression and metabolic pathways, offering insights into potential melatonin-based cashmere growth technologies.
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