research Skin-Specific Transgenic Overexpression of Ovine β-Catenin in Mice
In this study, researchers generated transgenic mice with skin-specific overexpression of ovine β-catenin to investigate its role in hair follicle development. The ovine β-catenin gene was successfully integrated and inherited across six generations, as confirmed by PCR and Southern blot tests. qRT-PCR and western blot analyses showed specific expression of β-catenin mRNA in the skin. Phenotypic analysis of the sixth generation revealed that overexpression of β-catenin increased hair follicle density by accelerating the catagen-to-anagen transition, indicating that ovine β-catenin can promote hair follicle development in mice, demonstrating domestication traits in animals.