Effects of Photoperiod Change on Serum Hormone Levels, Hair Follicle Growth, and Antioxidant Status in Skin Tissue of Cashmere Goats

March 2025 in “ Frontiers in Veterinary Science ”

Chenyu Mao, Xuelei Yin, Chu Wang, Xinran Huang, Jiawen Li

photoperiod melatonin prolactin thyroxine hair follicle growth antioxidant status secondary hair follicle hair bulb width

Studysummary In this study, altering the photoperiod in goats increased hormone concentrations and improved hair follicle development and skin antioxidant capacity, suggesting that short photoperiods may create favorable conditions for cashmere growth. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This study on 18 female Arbas cashmere goats over 60 days examined the effects of photoperiod changes on hormone levels, hair follicle growth, and antioxidant status. It found that both short-day (SDPP) and shortening-day (SPP) photoperiods increased melatonin levels, which influenced other hormones like prolactin and thyroxine, enhancing hair follicle activity and morphology. The SDPP group showed increased antioxidant activity in skin tissue, while both SDPP and SPP groups exhibited upregulation of genes crucial for hair follicle development and antioxidant defense. These changes improved cashmere growth by promoting secondary hair follicle activity and increasing hair bulb width, suggesting that manipulating light exposure can significantly impact cashmere production.

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research Identification of Key Pathways and Genes That Regulate Cashmere Development in Cashmere Goats Mediated by Exogenous Melatonin

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This study identified key genes and signaling pathways involved in cashmere goat hair follicle growth cycles, influenced by melatonin implantation, suggesting a basis for further research on melatonin's regulatory mechanism.

research Melatonin Regulates the Periodic Growth of Cashmere by Upregulating the Expression of Wnt10b and β-Catenin in Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goats

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This study found that continuous implantation of melatonin in cashmere goats advanced the growth cycle of cashmere by inducing secondary hair follicle development and altering gene expression.

research Inhibition of Prolactin Promotes Secondary Skin Follicle Activation in Cashmere Goats

7 citations , March 2021 in “Journal of animal science/Journal of animal science ... and ASAS reference compendium”

In this study, bromocriptine's inhibition of prolactin promoted secondary follicle development during anagen in cashmere goats, likely via changes in specific gene expressions, despite not affecting fiber characteristics or primary follicle activity.

Effects of Melatonin Administration to Cashmere Goats on Cashmere Production and Hair Follicle Characteristics in Two Consecutive Cashmere Growth Cycles

research Effects of Melatonin Administration to Cashmere Goats on Cashmere Production and Hair Follicle Characteristics in Two Consecutive Cashmere Growth Cycles

8 citations , August 2020 in “Domestic Animal Endocrinology”

This study found that melatonin treatment improved cashmere production for one cycle in cashmere goats, enhancing fiber quality and follicle activity, but had no effects in the subsequent cycle.

Melatonin Promotes Secondary Hair Follicle Development in Early Postnatal Cashmere Goats and Improves Cashmere Quantity and Quality by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Suppressing Apoptosis

research Melatonin Promotes Secondary Hair Follicle Development in Early Postnatal Cashmere Goats and Improves Cashmere Quantity and Quality by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Suppressing Apoptosis

46 citations , March 2019 in “Journal of Pineal Research”

The study found that melatonin treatment in early postnatal cashmere goats increased both the quantity and quality of cashmere by promoting secondary hair follicle development and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities.

Long Noncoding RNA and Gene Expression Analysis of Melatonin-Exposed Liaoning Cashmere Goat Fibroblasts Indicating Cashmere Growth

research Long Noncoding RNA and Gene Expression Analysis of Melatonin-Exposed Liaoning Cashmere Goat Fibroblasts Indicating Cashmere Growth

12 citations , September 2018 in “Naturwissenschaften”

This study found that melatonin at 0.2 g/L for 72 hours most effectively enhances cashmere growth in Liaoning cashmere goats by upregulating the lncRNA MTC, which activates NF-kB signaling.

research A Microarray-Based Analysis Reveals That a Short Photoperiod Promotes Hair Growth in the Arbas Cashmere Goat

40 citations , January 2016 in “PLoS ONE”

The study found that exposing Arbas Cashmere goats to a short photoperiod significantly increased cashmere production by extending the anagen phase of hair follicles, with gene expression changes identified as contributing factors.

research MicroRNA-214 Controls Skin and Hair Follicle Development by Modulating the Activity of the Wnt Pathway

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This study found that overexpression of miR-214 in keratinocytes inhibits hair follicle development and cycling by targeting β-catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway.

research Growth and Viability of Liaoning Cashmere Goat Hair Follicles During the Annual Hair Follicle Cycle

10 citations , January 2014 in “Genetics and Molecular Research”

This study observed that primary hair follicles in Liaoning Cashmere goats had broader hair bulb widths compared to secondary follicles, with the difference diminishing during the anagen phase of hair follicle development.

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research Prolactin Signaling Influences the Timing Mechanism of the Hair Follicle: Analysis of Hair Growth Cycles in Prolactin Receptor Knockout Mice

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