• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1298-1304
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to provide basic haematological information to allow improved nutritional management for velvet production in spotted deer (Cervus nippon) by investigating biochemical changes in blood values during the antler growth period. Blood samples, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty-five deer, were taken every 10 days from casting (day 0) to harvesting (day 50) of velvet antler. Negligible changes were found in the concentrations of total protein, albumin, and creatinine during the antler growth period, but there were significant changes in the concentrations of urea (p<0.05) and uric acid (p<0.01). The concentration of triglyceride was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the antler growth period compared to casting time, while serum high-density lipoprotein concentrations were low and remained unchanged during the antler growth period. Serum glucose concentration increased (p<0.05) significantly and was slightly changeable during antler growth. The serum concentrations of Ca and P did not fluctuate during antler growth, while those of Na, K and Cl showed slight differences between the time of casting and the rest of the antler growth period. No significant changes in concentrations of AST, ALT, amylase, CK, GGT and LDH were detected during the antler growth period. However, the concentration of ALK-P increased during antler growth reaching its peak on day 50 after casting. We found a significant difference in the concentration of ALK-P between the time of casting and the rest of the antler growth period (p<0.01). Consequently, antler growth was associated with mild changes in measured serum biochemical values with the exception of ALK-P activity in spotted deer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1303-1308
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate changes in blood enzyme parameters and to evaluate the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), antler growth and body weight during the antler growth of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Serum enzyme activity and IGF-1 concentrations were measured in blood samples collected from the jugular and femoral veins at regular intervals during the antler growth period. Blood samples were taken in the morning from fasted stags (n = 12) which were healthy and showed no clinical signs of disease. Alfalfa was available ad libitum and concentrates were given at 1% of body weight to all stags. The experimental diet was provided at 9 am with water available at all times. There were no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase during antler growth, but alkaline phosphatase concentrations increased with antler growth progression, and the highest alkaline phosphatase concentration was obtained 55 days after antler casting. Serum IGF-1 concentrations measured from blood samples taken from the jugular vein during antler growth, determined that levels of IGF-1 was associated with body weight and antler growth patterns. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were higher at the antler cutting date than other sampling dates. Antler length increased significantly during antler growth (p<0.001), and there was a similar trend to between right and left beams. Body weight increased with antler growth but was not significant. Consequently it appeared that serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was related to antler growth and both antler growth and body weight were associated positively with IGF-1 concentrations during antler growth.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 1960

In order to know the effect on the growth of experimental rats, this, this experimental rats, this experiment was carried out on two groups of rats-a rice-diet animal group and a stock-diet animal group. Results of the growth experiment are shown in the tables 3 and 4, and growth curves are shown in the figures 1 and 2. The growth curves are shown in the figures 3 and 4. Based on the statistical analysis of growth rats, the male group on stock-diet was stimulated significantly in its growth by adding antler. The female group on rice-diet was also significantly stimulated in growth by anter. The other groups are not significant but it seems likely that the growths wers stimulated. As shown in table 7, the numbers of days when the body weight of the animals in each group became two times, three times, three times, and four times are discussed. This method of analysis shows clearly the stimulation of growth by adding antler in each group in both sexes. It can be summarized that the antler stimulates the growth of the experimental rats but it is not discussed in this paper whether this stimulation in the growth might be due to calcium, vitamins and amino acids in antler or to an unknown growth factor.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.291-294
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• 1998

Transfer of Candida albicans grown in Sabouraud medium to the RPMI medium induces the transition from a nonpathogenic yeast form to a pathogenic hyphal form. This transition was severely inhibited in a dose-dependent manner when deer antler extract was added to the RPMI medium in a nontoxic range (up to $500{\mu}g$). In that range, deer antler extract inhibited the hyphal transition and cell growth, whereas no effect was observed on the yeast growth. When hydrophobic or hydrophilic fractions were prepared by detergent-solubilization of deer antler extract, the hydrophobic fraction showed a large degree of inhibition of the hyphal growth in Candida albicans. Neither fraction affected the growth in the yeast form. The pattern of chitin localization in the culture of the yeast form grown in RPMI in the presence of deer antler extract was confirmed by calcofluor staining and this exhibited strongly the suppression of hyphal transition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.748-753
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• 2007

Serum biochemical values were measured in blood samples collected from 8 fasted stags from both jugular and femoral veins at 18-day intervals during antler growth. Samples were analyzed for blood substrate, enzyme activity values, minerals and electrolyte. There were no significant differences in total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, triglyceride, glucose or cholesterol concentration between veins or sampling dates. However, total-bilirubin concentration in the jugular vein on the casting date was three times higher than on the other sampling dates (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase with progressing antler growth. The highest level of alkaline phosphatase concentration was on day 55 after casting. There were no significant differences in inorganic phosphorus, sodium and chloride concentration between jugular and femoral samples. Calcium concentration was significantly higher in the femoral vein on the cutting date (55 day) than in the jugular vein (p<0.05). There were few changes in serum biochemical values. However, some electrolytes and minerals had differences during antler growth. It is suggested that despite such a big event as antler growth, blood biochemical values are not variable if feeding conditions are consistently maintained as was the case in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2002

Antlers from deer species are alternative animal by-products. Due to the oriental trade, the velvet antler industry is rapidly emerging in North America. The unique biological property of antler wish a deciduous natural phenomenon offers the valuable model of biomedical research. Growing antlers showed different structures according to cell populations consisting of mesenchymes, chondroblasts, chondrocytes and osseous tissues from distal to proximal portions of main beam. Their structures were different from two tissues, cartilage and bone, in growing antlers. Zone of maturing ants calcifying chondrocytes referred as upper section was invaded by osteoblasts indicating the occurrence of endochondral ossification. The cartilaginous tissues were gradually replaced by osseous tissues downward. The bony tissues referred as the middle and base sections in this thesis contained spongy bone and cortical bone structure in the difference of the degree of mineralization antral the thickness of cortical bony in adjacent to outer velvet layer. In addition, the endocrinological regulators such as testosterone, prolactin, growth hormones and other growth factors are actively involved in the unique deciduous nature shown in the growth and development of antler.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.422-425
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• 1998

Chitin synthase null-mutants propagate in yeast form in RPMI medium with suppression of hyphal growth. This hyphal suppression is also observed in the wild type culture grown in RPMI medium supplemented with deer antler extract. To identify the possible target of deer antler extract, the enzymatic activities of chitin synthases were examined. The enzymatic activities of three chitin synthases, CAChsl, CAChs2, and CAChs3, were found to be differentially inhibited by deer antler extract. Of them, CAChsl, was the most sensitive to the extract. These results indicate that deer antler extract causes hyphal suppression, which resembles the effects of chitin synthase deletion, probably through direct inhibition of chitin synthases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.263-268
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the change of blood constituents during the growth of antlers in Korean spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty five deer (3 to 6 year-old males) were taken in 10 days interval from casting to cutting of antler and were analyzed the blood parameters. Total-protein concentration in blood serum showed significantly differences during growth period of velvet antler (p<0.01), and it had similar tendency for total protein and albumin concentration, but albumin concentration was about 40-45% of total protein concentration. Urea and creatinine concentration was tended to inverse proportion, and it was almost 30:1 for ratio of urea and creatinine concentration. The concentration of total protein, creatinine, and uric acid concentration in blood during growth period of velvet antler was similarly increased and decreased but urea concentration was opposed. The concentration of total-bilirubin and direct-bilirubin at casting was higher than those at other period(P<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 1994

Bacillus P-92 which fermented antler was isolated from intestinal bacteria. The biological activites, carbon clearance and growth activity of lactic acid bacteria, of fermented antler was better than those of untreated antler. The enyzmes activities, ${\beta}-glucosidase,\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ and tryptophanase, of intestinal bacteria of mice treated with fermented antler were lower than those of mice treated with untreated antler, although those of mice treated with fermented antler or untreated antler were higher than those of control. Biological activity of the antler seems to be increased by fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1303-1313
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• 2011

This study was conducted to provide the basic information to allow improved scientific assessment of velvet antler's quality by investigating the change of chemical composition during different antler growth stages in elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis). Twenty four antlers were harvested from elk stags (aged 4-5 years) on 65 days (VA65), 80 days (VA80) and 95 days (VA95) after button casting, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in five sections (top, upper, middle, base, and bottom). Crude protein and ether extract content was the highest in the top section, whereas ash content was the highest in the bottom section in all groups (p<0.05). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was higher in the VA65 group than in the VA95 group in the upper section of antler (p<0.05). The collagen content was higher in the VA65 group compared to the VA95 group in the middle and bottom sections (p<0.05), and increased downward from the top to the bottom section. The proportions of certain amino acids, including aspartic acid, glutamic acid and isoleucine were higher (p<0.05), whereas proline and glycine were lower in the top section of antler compared to all other sections (p<0.05). The proportion of linoleic acid, 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid, total ${\omega}$-3 and ${\omega}$-6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for all sections in the VA65 group was higher than in the VA95 group (p<0.05). These results suggested that the quality of velvet antler is strongly influenced by antler development stage.