转录组分析揭示山羊角基皮肤的代谢适应性变化

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中图分类号：S827.2 文献标志码：A 文章编号：0366-6964（2025）0-4938-09

Abstract： This study aimed to reveal the adaptive changes in sex hormone secretion patterns and the metabolic mechanisms underlying the development of horn-supporting skin structures. Six adult buck，including 3 horned and 3 polled individuals，were selected. Blood samples were collected before morning feeding， and serum sex hormone levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and radioimmunoassay （RIA）. Skin samples were taken from the horn base of horned bucks and the corresponding forehead region of polled bucks for transcriptome sequencing analysis. Hormone analysis showed that the serum concentrations of progesterone，folicle-stimulating hormone （FSH），and luteinizing hormone（LH） were significantly lower in horned bucks than in polled bucks （ P<0. 05 ）.The testosterone-to-estradiol（T/E2）ratio was significantly higher in horned bucks ⋅P<0. 05 ），but thelevels of testosterone（T）and estradiol（E2） did not show significant differences. Transcriptome analysis identified 1 721 differentially expressed genes （DEGs），with 1 183 upregulated and 538 downregulated. These DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to metabolism （metabolic pathways）， fatty acid elongation，fatty acid metabolism，extracellular matrix （ECM-receptor interaction），biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids，fatty acid degradation，and glycolipid metabolism. In conclusion，the findings suggest that horn-based skin requires more energy and keratin secretion for protein sheath growth，while maintaining higher structural stability by reducing celllar collagen and exoskeleton. In addition，horned bucks have reduced levels of P，FSH and LH，suggesting a shift in reproductive strategy towards horn-dependent morphological dominance and aggressive behaviour driven by high T/E2 ratios. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for resolving the molecular regulatory mechanisms of horn growth and development in goats and the effects of horn traits on reproductive adaptations.

Keywords：goat；polled trait；sex hormones;transcriptome ∗ Corresponding author： LING Yinghui，E-mail： lingyinghui@ahau. edu. cn

角作为反刍动物重要的表型特征，在野外生存中具有抵御天敌、种内竞争等功能[1]。（剩余13277字）