Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats

Objective Improving total hair follicle density (THFD) can directly result in increased fiber yield in cashmere goats. However, its phenotypic and genetic characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution and associated genes of THFD in goats. Methods...

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Main Authors: Jipan Zhang, Ziyi Chen, Siyuan Zhang, Guoqiu Li, Xingqiang Fang, Yongju Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies 2025-07-01
Series:Animal Bioscience
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Online Access:http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-25-0026.pdf
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author Jipan Zhang
Ziyi Chen
Siyuan Zhang
Guoqiu Li
Xingqiang Fang
Yongju Zhao
author_facet Jipan Zhang
Ziyi Chen
Siyuan Zhang
Guoqiu Li
Xingqiang Fang
Yongju Zhao
author_sort Jipan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Objective Improving total hair follicle density (THFD) can directly result in increased fiber yield in cashmere goats. However, its phenotypic and genetic characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution and associated genes of THFD in goats. Methods A large-scale histological image analysis was conducted on 791 skin samples to characterize the spatial distribution of THFD at the local-site (n = 7), body-side (32 sites, n = 224), and whole-body (14 sites, n = 560) levels. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing was performed on 18 skin samples to identify genes associated with THFD. Results The unique structure of the hair follicle group leads to an uneven distribution of hair follicles, resulting variation in THFD at the local-site. THFD exhibited a gradient pattern throughout the body, characterized by elevated values in the scapular region and decreased values in the abdominal region. THFD showed uneven distribution across the whole-body, with a consistent pattern observed in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats, Dazu black goats and their F1 hybrids (DBG♂ × IMCG♀). Through the integration of differential gene expression analysis, trend analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, Venn analysis, and literature review, four core genes (GJA1, DSP, CDH3, and PER1) were identified. These genes showed high and specific expression in skin tissue and demonstrated a significant response to changes in THFD. Conclusion This study thoroughly characterized the spatial variation of THFD at the local-site, body-side, and whole-body levels in order to gain a better understanding of genetic characterization, associated genes and spatial variation. Additionally, we have identified four genes that are associated with THFD. These findings provide an important reference for the subsequent development and utilization of THFD genes in cashmere goats.
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spelling doaj-art-3404f1a1330446bcb02a1d91f0b7cc792025-08-20T02:38:36ZengAsian-Australasian Association of Animal Production SocietiesAnimal Bioscience2765-01892765-02352025-07-013871356137110.5713/ab.25.002625486Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goatsJipan Zhang0Ziyi Chen1Siyuan Zhang2Guoqiu Li3Xingqiang Fang4Yongju Zhao5 College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaObjective Improving total hair follicle density (THFD) can directly result in increased fiber yield in cashmere goats. However, its phenotypic and genetic characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution and associated genes of THFD in goats. Methods A large-scale histological image analysis was conducted on 791 skin samples to characterize the spatial distribution of THFD at the local-site (n = 7), body-side (32 sites, n = 224), and whole-body (14 sites, n = 560) levels. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing was performed on 18 skin samples to identify genes associated with THFD. Results The unique structure of the hair follicle group leads to an uneven distribution of hair follicles, resulting variation in THFD at the local-site. THFD exhibited a gradient pattern throughout the body, characterized by elevated values in the scapular region and decreased values in the abdominal region. THFD showed uneven distribution across the whole-body, with a consistent pattern observed in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats, Dazu black goats and their F1 hybrids (DBG♂ × IMCG♀). Through the integration of differential gene expression analysis, trend analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, Venn analysis, and literature review, four core genes (GJA1, DSP, CDH3, and PER1) were identified. These genes showed high and specific expression in skin tissue and demonstrated a significant response to changes in THFD. Conclusion This study thoroughly characterized the spatial variation of THFD at the local-site, body-side, and whole-body levels in order to gain a better understanding of genetic characterization, associated genes and spatial variation. Additionally, we have identified four genes that are associated with THFD. These findings provide an important reference for the subsequent development and utilization of THFD genes in cashmere goats.http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-25-0026.pdfgoathair follicle densityimage analysismrna-seqspatial pattern
spellingShingle Jipan Zhang
Ziyi Chen
Siyuan Zhang
Guoqiu Li
Xingqiang Fang
Yongju Zhao
Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
Animal Bioscience
goat
hair follicle density
image analysis
mrna-seq
spatial pattern
title Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
title_full Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
title_fullStr Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
title_full_unstemmed Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
title_short Spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
title_sort spatial variation and associated genes of total hair follicle density in goats
topic goat
hair follicle density
image analysis
mrna-seq
spatial pattern
url http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-25-0026.pdf
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AT guoqiuli spatialvariationandassociatedgenesoftotalhairfollicledensityingoats
AT xingqiangfang spatialvariationandassociatedgenesoftotalhairfollicledensityingoats
AT yongjuzhao spatialvariationandassociatedgenesoftotalhairfollicledensityingoats