Analysis of histology and long noncoding RNAs involved in the rabbit hair follicle density using RNA sequencing

Haisheng Ding,Huiling Zhao,Yunxia Qi,Xiaowei Zhao,Dongwei Huang,Xiaofei Wang

doi:10.1186/s12864-021-07398-4

Abstract

BackgroundHair follicle density influences wool fibre production, which is one of the most important traits of the Wan Strain Angora rabbit. However, molecular mechanisms regulating hair follicle density have remained elusive.ResultsIn this study, hair follicle density at different body sites of Wan Strain Angora rabbits with high and low wool production (HWP and LWP) was investigated by histological analysis. Haematoxylin-eosin staining showed a higher hair follicle density in the skin of the HWP rabbits. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) profile was investigated by RNA sequencing, and 50 and 38 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and genes, respectively, were screened between the HWP and LWP groups. A gene ontology analysis revealed that phospholipid, lipid metabolic, apoptotic, lipid biosynthetic, and lipid and fatty acid transport processes were significantly enriched. Potential functional lncRNAs that regulate lipid metabolism, amino acid synthesis, as well as the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) and hedgehog signalling pathways, were identified. Consequently, five lncRNAs (LNC_002171, LNC_000797, LNC_005567, LNC_013595, and LNC_020367) were considered to be potential regulators of hair follicle density and development. Three DE lncRNAs and genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).ConclusionsLncRNA profiles provide information on lncRNA expression to improve the understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of hair follicle density.

Highlights

Hair follicle density influences wool fibre production, which is one of the most important traits of the Wan Strain Angora rabbit
A morphological analysis showed that the hair follicle densities of backs, abdomens, sides, and hips were higher in the high wool production (HWP) group (Fig. 1a, b, c, d) than in the low wool production (LWP) group (Fig. 1e, f, g, h)
The results demonstrate that a high hair follicle density leads to high wool production in Wan Strain Angora rabbits

Summary

Introduction

Hair follicle density influences wool fibre production, which is one of the most important traits of the Wan Strain Angora rabbit. Wool production is one of the most important traits in Angora rabbits. For Angora rabbits under the same environmental conditions, gender, body site, and the month of age are closely related to wool fibre production [3]. LncRNAs are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack open reading frames (ORF) and protein-coding capabilities [22]. They regulate protein-coding gene expression at posttranscriptional and transcriptional levels [23, 24]. RP11-766 N7.3, H19 and HOTAIR are specific lncRNAs that are involved in Wnt signalling to regulate hair follicle development [28]. Hair follicle density-related lncRNAs in rabbits have not been profiled so far

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion