Alterations in Methionine Cycle and Wnt/MAPK Signaling Associated with HMBi-Induced Cashmere Growth in Goats

This study investigated the effects of HMBi supplementation on cashmere growth in 14 female Liaoning cashmere goats. The goats were divided into a control group and an HMBi group, with the latter receiving a diet supplemented with 1.27% HMBi. Results showed that HMBi significantly increased cashmere length and decreased its diameter. Metabolomic analysis revealed increased concentrations of Met, HMB, proline betaine, and 10-hydroxydecanoic acid in the skin tissue of the HMBi group. Additionally, HMBi elevated the expression of genes related to the Met cycle and cell proliferation, such as LDHD, MAT1A, AHCY, CCND1, CDK4, IVL, and BMP4. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that differential gene expression was enriched in the Wnt and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that the Met cycle, Wnt, and MAPK pathways are crucial in HMBi-induced cashmere growth in goats.