Effect of Nutritional Restriction on the Hair Follicles Development and Skin Transcriptome of Chinese Merino Sheep

The study investigated the effects of maternal nutrition on the development of wool follicles in Chinese Merino sheep. It was found that fetuses from ewes on a sub-maintenance diet (75% of normal maintenance nutrition) had a reduced density of secondary wool follicles (SF) and a lower SF to primary wool follicle (PF) ratio from day 105 to 135 of gestation, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The research identified differentially expressed genes in several functional categories and pathways, including metabolism, apoptosis, and ribosome pathways. Four genes—SFRP4, PITX1, BAMBI, and KRT16—were pinpointed as candidates involved in the branching and development of SF. The results suggest that nutritional restriction during pregnancy can affect wool follicle development and provide a basis for studying the molecular mechanisms of SF development in Merino sheep.