In ovo injection of CHIR-99021 promotes feather follicles development via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during chick embryonic period

Ziqiang Feng; Ichraf Mabrouk; Petunia Msuthwana; Yuxuan Zhou; Yupu Song; Haizhou Gong; Shengyi Li; Changguo Min; Anqi Ju; Aoyi Duan; Jiangting Niu; Jinhong Fu; Xiaomin Yan; Xiaohui Xu; Chuanghang Li; Yongfeng Sun

Poultry Science (Jun 2022)

In ovo injection of CHIR-99021 promotes feather follicles development via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during chick embryonic period

Ziqiang Feng,
Ichraf Mabrouk,
Petunia Msuthwana,
Yuxuan Zhou,
Yupu Song,
Haizhou Gong,
Shengyi Li,
Changguo Min,
Anqi Ju,
Aoyi Duan,
Jiangting Niu,
Jinhong Fu,
Xiaomin Yan,
Xiaohui Xu,
Chuanghang Li,
Yongfeng Sun

Affiliations

Ziqiang Feng: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Ichraf Mabrouk: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Petunia Msuthwana: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Yuxuan Zhou: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Yupu Song: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Haizhou Gong: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Shengyi Li: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Changguo Min: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Anqi Ju: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Aoyi Duan: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Jiangting Niu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Jinhong Fu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Xiaomin Yan: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Xiaohui Xu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Chuanghang Li: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Yongfeng Sun: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Production, Product Quality and Security (Jilin Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Changchun 130118, China; Corresponding author:

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 101, no. 6
p. 101825

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: The Wingless-types/beta-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin) signaling pathway plays an important role in embryonic development and affects the physiological development processes of feather follicles. To investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in regulating feather follicles morphogenesis, in ovo injection of CHIR-99021, an activator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, was conducted in chick embryo model. Initially, a total of 40 embryos were used to assess feather follicles morphogenesis and the expression of β-catenin (E9–E17). The histological results showed that feather follicle morphogenesis was mainly completed from E9 to E17. β-catenin was involved in the processing of the appearance of dermal cell condensation (E9) and the completion of the feather follicles morphogenesis (E17). Next, a total of 160 fertilized eggs were randomly divided into 8 groups for in ovo injection at E9, including a Normal Saline injected group (CON) and the 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 ng CHIR-99021 groups. Dorsal skin tissue samples were collected at E17 for investigating feather follicles morphology and expressions of β-catenin and lymphoid enhancerbinding factor-1 (LEF1) at gene and protein levels. The results showed that feather follicle diameter in the injected groups were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with limit dose-independence compared to the CON group. CHIR-99021 significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the mRNA expressions of catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) and downstream target LEF1. In ovo injection of CHIR-99021 caused that β-catenin and LEF1 were significantly (P < 0.05) increased followed the increased doses as determined by western blotting. The immunochemical results showed that β-catenin was detected in the dermal papilla of feather follicles. Given these results, this study suggests to developmental biology that in ovo injection of CHIR-99021 promoted feather follicles morphogenesis and development via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and upregulating downstream target LEF1 during embryonic period in chick embryo model. Moreover, CHIR-99021 may be a strong candidate to promote the animal feather/hair industry, especially as a reference for bird feather production.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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