Melatonin Promotes the Development of Secondary Hair Follicles by Regulating circMPP5

The study "Melatonin promotes the development of the secondary hair follicles by regulating circMPP5" involved 32 newborn goats, half of which received melatonin (MT) treatment. The study found that MT treatment increased the density of secondary hair follicles, improving the yield and quality of cashmere without affecting the goats' live weight. This was achieved by increasing antioxidant levels, enhancing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, and reducing apoptosis. The study also found that MT promotes the proliferation of secondary hair follicle cells at an early age through the regulation of the MAPK pathway via the circMPP5 sponging the miR-211, which regulates the expression of MAPK3. This process increases the numbers of secondary hair follicles, thus improving the production of cashmere from these goats.