Abstract
The periodic regrowth of rabbit fur is economically important. Here, we aimed to characterise the histological traits and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in the skin tissue of Wan Strain Angora rabbits at different weeks after plucking. Haematoxylin-eosin staining showed that hair follicles were in the telogen phase in the first week, while they were in the anagen phase from the fourth to twenty-fourth weeks. In addition, two small RNA libraries derived from skin samples of Wan Strain Angora rabbits at telogen and anagen stages yielded over 24 million high-quality reads. Specifically, 185 miRNAs were differentially expressed between the telogen and anagen phases. The function of the differentially expressed miRNAs was explored by comparing them with known mammalian miRNAs and by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis of their predicted targets. Five new functional miRNAs were validated using quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, the fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene was verified to be a target of conservative_NC_013672.1_9290 and conservative_NC_013675.1_10734. We investigated differential miRNA profiles between the telogen and anagen phases of the hair cycle and our findings provide a basis for future studies focusing on the mechanisms of miRNA-mediated regulation of rabbit hair follicle cycling.
Highlights
The growth and development of hair follicles are cyclical throughout a rabbit’s life
Similar lengths of hair follicles between the fourth, eighth, and twenty-fourth weeks were observed (Fig. 1d,f,h). These results indicated that hair follicles of Wan Strain Angora rabbits were in the telogen phase in the first week after plucking, whereas they were in the anagen phase from the fourth to twenty-fourth weeks, leading to continuous hair growth throughout the period
The results showed that rabbit hairs grew in a linear growth rhythm from the fourth to twenty-fourth weeks for different types of hair, suggesting that hair follicles were still in the anagen phase until the twenty-fourth week after plucking
Summary
The growth and development of hair follicles are cyclical throughout a rabbit’s life. Understanding gene expression patterns can help to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the rabbit hair cycle. Hair follicle development is regulated by miR-195-5p-induced inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through targeting LRP6 and signature genes of Wnt signalling[12]. MiRNAs are involved in the regulation of signalling pathways and factors related to skin development and the hair cycle. MiR-214 regulates skin morphogenesis and hair follicle cycling by targeting β-catenin and is a key regulator of Wnt signalling and stem cell functions during normal tissue homeostasis, regeneration, and aging[16]. Changes in miRNA expression patterns are closely related to hair follicle development and cycling[17]. The mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate hair follicle cycling in Wan Strain Angora rabbits, remain largely unclear
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