Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40597626›Full record

ArticleGenetics, selection, evolution : GSE2025

Multiple cell types guided by neurocytes orchestrate horn bud initiation in dairy goats.

Hegang Li, Mengmeng Du, Xiaokun Lin, Xinxin Cao, Lu Leng, F M Perez Campo, Dongliang Xu, Lele Hou, Xiaoxiao Gao, Jianyu Zhou and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Hegang Li *Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Mengmeng Du *Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Xiaokun LinQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Xinxin CaoQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Lu LengQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
F M Perez CampoUniversity of Cantabria, Torrelavega, Santandery, Spain.
Dongliang XuQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Lele HouQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Xiaoxiao GaoQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Jianyu ZhouQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Ming ChengQingdao Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao, China.
Jianguang WangInner Mongolia Shengjian Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hohhot, China.
Qinan ZhaoInner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China.
Yin ChenQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Feng YangChina Meat Food Comprehensive Research Center, Beijing, China. 444962648@qq.com.
Jinshan ZhaoQingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China. 201501005@qau.edu.cn.

Funding

Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project 2022ZD04014Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2020MC164Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2022MC094Postgraduate Education Reform Project of Shandong Province SDYJSJGC2023061Projects of Qingdao People's Livelihood Science and Technology 21-1-4-ny-8-nshProjects of Qingdao People's Livelihood Science and Technology 23-2-8-xdny-9-nshTechnical System of Sheep and Goat Industry in Shandong Province SDAIT-10-02
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHorn development is a key ruminant trait involving multi-cell type coordination via molecular pathways. This study used scRNA-seq to analyze cellular heterogeneity and fate trajectories during early horn bud niche formation, revealing key gene expression profiles. Combining with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical analysis, we further verified the asynchronous developmental pathways of key cells in the skin tissue of fetal goat horn bud at induction (embryonic day (E) 50; E50), organogenesis (E60), and cytodifferentiation (E70) stages, and demonstrated the signal transmission routes for the development of early horn buds.

resultsWe revealed temporal and spatial differences of the main signal transmission of horn bud development combining with existing literatures. We speculated that multiple cell types under the guidance of nerve cells collaborated on horn bud initiation in dairy goats. In detail, neural cells receive initial horn bud signals, stimulating hair follicle cell degeneration and transmitting to dermal cells, which evolve through intermediates, amplify signals to epithelial cells, and differentiate into mesenchymal cells. Nerve cell branches also trigger neural crest cell production/migration, working with chondrocytes to promote keratinocyte differentiation for horn bud formation. In addition, we further identified the early horn bud developmental specific events, including the screening of biological functions, signaling pathways and key candidate genes.

conclusionsThis study employed scRNA-seq to characterize cell fate trajectories and gene expression profiles in goat fetal horn buds. Histological comparisons between hornless and horned fetuses revealed cellular heterogeneity in epithelial, dermal, nerve, and hair follicle cells, with pseudo-time analysis identifying distinct differentiation paths. Dermal and epithelial cell transcriptional dynamics were critical for horn bud initiation (branch 1), supported by immunohistochemistry. Keratinocyte and nerve cell state transitions actively regulated horn development, with asynchronous cell development visualized via immunohistochemistry. Functional enrichment analyses (GO/KEGG) highlighted neural crest development and keratinocyte differentiation pathways, identifying candidate genes (EGR1, ZEB2, SFRP2, KRT10, FMOD, CENPW, LDB1, TWIST1) involved in horn morphogenesis. These findings advance understanding of goat horn development and genetic determinants.

Indexed as

GoatsHornsAnimalsCell DifferentiationFemaleGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalOrganogenesisSignal TransductionTranscriptome

Identifiers

PMID40597626
PMCPMC12220536

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.