Member Article

Deer Antlers Could be 'Holy Grail' of Medicine

Deer antlers could help scientists develop new ways of restoring organs damaged through trauma, disease or cancer.

Research carried out by veterinary scientists at the Royal Veterinary College has revealed that deer antler regeneration may use stem cells and involves similar mechanisms to those used in limb development. Many lower animals such as newts can renew damaged parts of their bodies but antler growth is the only example of mammals being able to regrow large complex organs.

Deer antlers are large structures made of bone that annually grow, die, are shed and then regenerate. Although dead tissue when used for fighting, during growth they consist of living bone, cartilage blood vessels and fibrous tissue covered in skin. Professor Joanna Price, who heads research on antler regeneration at the Royal Veterinary College, said “The regeneration of antlers remains one of the mysteries of biology but we are moving some way to understanding the mechanisms involved. Antlers provide us with a unique natural model that can help us understand the basic process of regeneration although we are still a long way from being able to apply this work to humans”.

Stem cell research can help develop new approaches towards prevention and treatment of debilitating diseases affecting the nervous system and key organs, such as Parkinson’s.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .