Metabolomics Reveals Metabolites Associated with Hair Follicle Cycle in Cashmere Goats

This study used targeted metabolomics to analyze 1,903 metabolites in the skin of 12 female Jiangnan cashmere goats during different hair follicle cycle stages (anagen, catagen, and telogen) and feeding modes (grazing and barn feeding). The results showed that most metabolites, including amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids, were downregulated from anagen to telogen, indicating active cell processes in anagen and apoptosis in the transition to telogen. Key metabolites like 2’-deoxyadenosine and riboflavin were identified as potential regulators of the hair follicle cycle. The study also found that feeding practices influenced metabolite expression, suggesting that diet can affect hair follicle growth. External factors like light and temperature were shown to impact metabolite levels, further affecting hair growth.