Scientists were able to grow antler structures on mouse foreheads through stem cell technology. The stem cells were taken from deers.
Deer Antlers
According to the Daily Mail, the antlers of deers fall down and then regrow yearly.
Deer antlers are among the fastest-growing tissues in the entire animal kingdom, as noted by Interesting Engineering. Given this, looking deeper into its mechanisms could someday help the field of regenerative medicine. In fact, these structures may grow 0.75 inches each day during springtime. The antlers may fully develop within a few months.
Now, according to a study published in Science, researchers have been able to identify the cells that hold the key to this regrowth.
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Scientists Use Stem Cell Technology To Grow Antler-Like Structures on Mice
Around 45 days after deer stem cells were transplanted onto hairless lab mice's foreheads, tiny stumps started growing. The team is hopeful that such a procedure may help with the repair of human cartilage or bones. Moreover, it may even enable humans to regrow limbs that were lost.
Last 2020, a different research team discovered that these stumps could be grown on mouse foreheads by adding antler tissue into the skin of these mice. Now, for this recent study, the researchers aimed to pinpoint the particular blastema cells, which are responsible for reforming antler bone and tissue after shedding and hold the key to the structure's regrowth.
The researchers performed RNA sequencing to examine 75,000 Sika deer cells in the tissues within and by the antlers. They performed the procedure before, after, and during the shedding of antlers. By doing so, they were able to pinpoint the exact blastema cells which initiated the regenerative effects.
Their findings demonstrated that 10 days before the shedding, stem cells filled the antler pedicle, which were the stumps that stayed on the shedding day.
Five days after the shedding took place, these cells generated a different stem cell subtype. The team dubbed this as "ABPCs" (Antler Blastema Progenitor Cells). Ten days after the shedding, these ABPCs started becoming bone and cartilage.
As they were able to pinpoint the exact cells responsible for the regrowth of deer antlers, the team then cultured ABPCs in a petri dish in the lab. Five days later, these cells were transplanted between mice's ears. They then grew into structures that were similar to deer antlers. In just 45 days, the structure had bones and cartilage.
Though these findings are still preliminary, the researchers are hopeful that these results may have significant medical implications for mankind. Tao Quin, the study leader, states that the results suggest how deer may have clinical applications in the repair of bones. In the future, the induction of human cells into cells that are similar to ABPCs could also be used in the field of regenerative medicine. It may be helpful for limb regrowth or skeletal injuries.
Check out more news and information on Stem Cells in Science Times.
