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

Abstract

Many animals exhibit different behaviors in different seasons. The photoperiod can have effects on migration, breeding, fur growth, and other processes. The cyclic growth of the fur and feathers of some species of mammals and birds, respectively, is stimulated by the photoperiod as a result of hormone-dependent regulation of the nervous system. To further examine this phenomenon, we evaluated the Arbas Cashmere goat (Capra hircus), a species that is often used in this type of research. The goats were exposed to an experimentally controlled short photoperiod to study the regulation of cyclic cashmere growth. Exposure to a short photoperiod extended the anagen phase of the Cashmere goat hair follicle to increase cashmere production. Assessments of tissue sections indicated that the short photoperiod significantly induced cashmere growth. This conclusion was supported by a comparison of the differences in gene expression between the short photoperiod and natural conditions using gene chip technology. Using the gene chip data, we identified genes that showed altered expression under the short photoperiod compared to natural conditions, and these genes were found to be involved in the biological processes of hair follicle growth, structural composition of the hair follicle, and the morphogenesis of the surrounding skin appendages. Knowledge about differences in the expression of these genes as well as their functions and periodic regulation patterns increases our understanding of Cashmere goat hair follicle growth. This study also provides preliminary data that may be useful for the development of an artificial method to improve cashmere production by controlling the light cycle, which has practical significance for livestock breeding.

Skin transcriptome reveals the intrinsic molecular mechanisms underlying hair follicle cycling in Cashmere goats under natural and shortened photoperiod conditions

“…1 ). Because the duration and definition of proanagen (early anagen) have been debated 16 , 17 , we estimated that the timing of the transition from early anagen to the anagen phase was between June and August, which is consistent with the results of the study by Liu et al . 17 .…”

“…Cashmere is derived from secondary hair follicles (SHFs) which are distinct from primary HFs (PHFs) in both their morphogenesis and transcriptome profiles 15 . Limited publications have shown that SHFs likely go through proanagen (early anagen), anagen, catagen and telogen 16 , 17 , although the definition of proanagen is not fully clear in Cashmere goat. It is believed that SHF cycling receives continuous stimulation from external signals (photoperiod) and that it is regulated by a series of key regulatory factors.…”

“…A few studies over past decades have suggested that SHF cycling can be influenced by photoperiod alternations or the implantation of melatonin or prolactin 20 , 21 . However, few recent studies have attempted to characterize the underlying mechanism by comparing secondary HFs with primary HFs or by exposing goats to shortened photoperiod conditions 15 , 17 .…”

Exploring differentially expressed genes between anagen and telogen secondary hair follicle stem cells from the Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) by RNA-Seq

“…Because of differences between the breed, heredity and living environment of domestic animals, our molecular and morphological understanding of hair follicle biology relies a great deal on mouse hair follicle research. In recent years, studies on Cashmere goat hair follicles has increased [27][28][29], providing valuable information for further research on the molecular mechanisms associated with these cells.…”

m6A Methylation Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Skin Tissues of Coarse and Fine Type Liaoning Cashmere Goats

“…Therefore, in order to improve the quality of cashmere, the fineness of cashmere has become more and more popular (Bai et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2018). Investigations indicated that many genes might widely participate in the growth regulation of cashmere fiber (Stenn and Paus, 2001;Liu et al, 2016). Many studies have identified some genes associated with the growth and properties of wool fibers in sheep and goats, such as DSG1, IGF-IR, KRTAPs, ILK, as well as the KRT and KRTAP genes (Rufaut et al, 1999;Bin et al, 2006;Yu et al, 2011;Yang et al, 2012;Liu et al, 2015).…”