Pathways involved in pony body size development

Abstract Background The mechanism of body growth in mammals is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the regulatory networks involved through transcriptomic analysis pituitary and epiphyseal tissues smaller sized Debao ponies Mongolian horses at juvenile adult stages. Results We found that hormone receptor ( GHR ) was expressed low levels long bones, although g rowth GH highly compared with horses. Moreover, significant downregulated pathway components m-RAS ATF3 ponies, which slowed proliferation bone osteocytes. However, WNT2 PLCβ2 were obviously upregulated led to premature mineralization extracellular matrix. Furthermore, WNT/Ca 2+ may be responsible for regulating growth. demonstrated by q-PCR Western blot analyses bones ponies. Treatment WNT antagonistI decreased expression P < 0.05) vitro. Transduction ATDC5 cells a GHR-RNAi lentiviral vector 0.05). Additionally, IGF-1 gene liver lower than Detection plasma concentrations showed higher as juveniles adults horses, indicating regulation differs from Conclusion Our work provides insights into genetic short stature can provide useful information development therapeutic strategies small size.