All submissions of the EM system will be redirected to Online Manuscript Submission System. Authors are requested to submit articles directly to Online Manuscript Submission System of respective journal.

Expression of the ROR�± gene in Inner Mongolian cashmere goat hair follicles

Author(s): Y.H. Zhao, Z.H. Liu, L. Wang, H.M. Xiao, C.G. Du, Y.J. Zhang,R. Su and J.Q. Li

The expression of retinoid-acid-related orphan receptor �± (ROR�±) was evaluated at the mRNA level using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and its expression localization was determined by in situ hybridization of adult Inner Mongolian cashmere goats at different times of the year. In situ hybridization demonstrated that ROR�±was expressed in secondary hair follicles of the hair shaft, inner root sheath, outer root sheath, medulla, and other parts that are target organs of the ROR�±receptor gene. qRT-PCR results showed that there was no significant difference in the RORa mRNA abundance in February, April, August, and October (P > 0.05), and the only difference occurred in December relative to February, August, and October (P ROR�±. This study provides a good foundation for future studies on the relationship between the melatonin receptor and cashmere growth; in addition, it provides new insights for increased cashmere production and quality.