GENETIC BASIS OF EARLY ACTIVATION OF HAIR FOLLICLE IN CASHMERE GOAT: AN APPROACH WITH CANDIDATE GENES.

The cashmere hair follicle perpetually goes through three stages: growth (anagen), involution (catagen), and rest (telogen). Photoperiod is the main proximate factor in the control of seasonal coat change in Cashmere goats. Stem cells play a crucial role in the hair follicle growth. Different types of stem cells are present in hair follicle: bulge stem cells, secondary hair germ, adipose stem cells (ADSCs), epidermal stem cells. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is secreted from ADSCs and it is involved in the hair growth In this work we have studied the goat PDGFA and sequenced the full length transcript obtained a long and short isoforms. Using the RT-PCR we have identified the expression of some molecular signals, including PDGFA, that according to the literature are implicated in the hair growth. Our data may confirm that some genes especially as CD34, BMP2 and PDGFA can activate hair follicle stem cells in particular those of bulge region.