Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2004

Seiten: 1352-1362

Zeitschrift: Anatomical Record

Bandnummer: 218A

Heftnummer: 2

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.a.20127

Verlag: Wiley

Abstract: 

Antlers are periodically replaced cranial appendages that, except for
the reindeer, are grown only by male deer. The annual antler cycle is
controlled by seasonal fluctuations of sex steroid concentrations in the
blood, and accordingly castration of male deer causes deviations from
normal antler growth. The present study investigated antler histology of
castrated fallow bucks (Dama dama). Castration in early spring
was followed by casting of the hard antlers carried by the bucks and the
growth of a new set of antlers, which remained in velvet permanently.
In the following year, numerous bony protuberances developed from the
original antler surface. Further growth of these protuberances, which
were formed by subperiosteal intramembranous ossification, led to a
marked increase in antler diameter in the affected areas. Compared to
antlers of intact bucks, the antlers of the castrates showed
histological signs of immaturity, suggestive of a reduced bone
remodeling and an impairment of the mineralization process. These
changes point to the dependence of the above processes on a stimulation
by higher levels of sex steroids. Two years after castration, the
antlers also developed integumental thickening and showed an initial
formation of skin outgrowths. Cystic structures were present in the
skin, which were often filled with a presumably sebaceous and/or
keratinous material. Formation of intradermal bone or cartilage was not
observed in the antlers of the castrated fallow bucks. The histological
structure of the skin outgrowths suggested that they were caused by a
hypertrophy of the dermal component of the velvet. Due to the localized
bone overgrowth, resulting from the periosteal bone apposition onto the
original antler surface, skin‐lined infoldings originated, which reached
deep into the newly formed bone. Our study revealed no indication of
invasive/destructive bone growth in the antlers, i.e., of a penetration
of the newly formed bone tissue into the pre‐existing bone. The
hypertrophic bone growth in the antlers of the castrates is compared
with other forms of periosteally derived hypertrophic bone formation,
including osteomas, in the mammalian skeleton. It is discussed whether
the skin and bone outgrowths of the antlers of castrated fallow bucks
may be classified as benign tumors.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Kierdorf, U., Kiredorf, H., Schultz, M. and Rolf, H. (2004) Histological structure of antlers in castrated male fallow deer (Dama dama), Anatomical Record, 218A(2), pp. 1352-1362. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.a.20127

APA-Zitierstil: Kierdorf, U., Kiredorf, H., Schultz, M., & Rolf, H. (2004). Histological structure of antlers in castrated male fallow deer (Dama dama). Anatomical Record. 218A(2), 1352-1362. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.a.20127