Spatiotemporal Secondary Hair Follicle Development in the Lanyu Pig: A Novel Pelage Hair Follicle Model

The study characterizes the secondary hair follicle development in the Lanyu pig, an indigenous breed that retains vellus-like hair follicles, making it a promising model for studying skin regeneration. Unlike commonly used animal models, the Lanyu pig's skin closely resembles human skin, with both primary and secondary hair follicles. The research identified distinct stages of secondary follicle morphogenesis and demonstrated similarities in keratin expression and follicular architecture to human vellus hair follicles. The retention of secondary follicles into adulthood and their autosomal dominant inheritance pattern further support the Lanyu pig's relevance for translational research in human wound healing.