Fig. 5

Investigation of the key signaling pathway activation associated with ruminal epithelial and muscular development. a Top 15 KEGG enrichment pathway of DEGs associated with ruminal epithelial development in the rumen epithelial samples. b Spearman’s correlation analysis (FDR < 0.10) of ruminal epithelial thickness and gene expression related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; genes in pathway were marked with red color (positive correlation) or green color (negative correlation) using KEGG mapper tool. c The expression of DEGs (|FC|> 1.5 and FDR < 0.05) in ruminal epithelia via qRT-PCR verification (ANOVA). d Top 15 KEGG enrichment pathways of DEGs associated with rumen muscle development in the ruminal muscle layer samples. e Spearman’s correlation analysis (FDR < 0.10) of ruminal muscle layer thickness and gene expression related to the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway; genes in pathway were marked with red color (positive correlation) or green color (negative correlation) using KEGG mapper tool. f Expression of DEGs (|FC|> 1.5 and FDR < 0.05) in the ruminal muscle layer via qRT-PCR verification (ANOVA)