Relationship between velvet antler ossification and PTH and androgen serum levels in Tarim Red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Ossification degree is one of the primary variables affecting the medicinal value of velvet antler. Multiple factors regulate the calcification of velvet antler. We studied the relationship between the ossification of velvet antlers and the serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and androgen (ADG) in Tarim red deer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and atomic absorption spectrometry demonstrated that the changes in serum PTH and ADG levels nearly paralleled antler ossification during Tarim red deer antler mineralization. These results suggest that regulating the levels of serum PTH and ADG could decrease the calcification rate of velvet antlers in Tarim red deer. We conclude that PTH might increase antler ossification via the cAMP signaling pathway, and ADG possesses the dual roles of promoting both antler ossification and growth in Tarim red deer. This study suggests that we might be able to artificially control antler ossification to improve its medical value via the PTH or/and ADG pathway. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 696-703, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.