Melatonin Supplement Induced Hair Follicle Development in Offspring Rex Rabbits

The study examined the impact of melatonin (MT) supplementation in pregnant Rex rabbits on the hair follicle (HF) development of their offspring. Seventy-nine pregnant rabbits were divided into a control group (39) and an MT treatment group (40), with the latter receiving 10 mg MT microcapsules. The findings revealed that MT supplementation in the mothers led to improved fur quality in the offspring, characterized by a reduction in the diameter of primary and secondary HFs and an increase in HF density. The treatment did not affect the reproductive performance of the mothers or the growth of the offspring. Additionally, MT significantly influenced the expression of the melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene, increasing it in the skin and heart but decreasing it in the liver and kidney of the offspring. The study concluded that maternal MT supplementation could enhance HF density and fur quality in Rex rabbit offspring by altering MTNR1A gene expression in specific organs.