Multiple osteochondromas of the antlers and cranium in a free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) antler stem cell culture medium inhibits prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is a frequently diagnosed cancer in men, but today the prognosis of local cancer and its metastasis has improved markedly owing to multiple treatment options. In therapy, various molecular entities that induce the reversion of malignancy with the restoration of mature cells of the same histological lineage are still under development. The antler of the red deer is a large and easily available source of stem cells, rich in products with promising applications in cancer treatments. Here, for the first time, antler stem cell culture medium was used for the treatment of prostate cancer cells in vitro to determine the cellular and molecular effects. Our data revealed that antler stem cell culture medium promotes pronounced changes in the expression of the vaspin receptor GRP78, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), androgen receptor (AR), leptin, vaspin, and SRC and AKT kinase signaling pathways (connected with autophagy and cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis induction). Moreover, the inhibition of cell migration was also revealed. These results indicate useful properties of red deer antler stem cell culture medium that can control molecular and cellular mechanisms that halt carcinogenesis. All these can be considered targets for further cancer stem cell treatment or cancer diagnostic improvements.

Bone resorption and formation in the pedicles of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in relation to the antler cycle-A morphological and microanalytical study

We analyzed pedicle bone from roe bucks that had died around antler casting or shortly before or during the rutting period. Pedicles obtained around antler casting were highly porous and showed signs of intense osteoclastic activity that had caused the formation of an abscission line. Following the detachment of the antler plus a portion of pedicle bone, osteoclastic activity in the pedicles continued for some time, and new bone was deposited onto the separation plane of the pedicle stump, leading to partial pedicle restoration. Pedicles obtained around the rutting period were compact structures. The newly formed, often very large secondary osteons, which had filled the resorption cavities, exhibited a lower mineral density than the persisting older bone. The middle zones of the lamellar infilling frequently showed hypomineralized lamellae and enlarged osteocyte lacunae. This indicates a deficiency in mineral elements during the formation of these zones that occurred along with peak antler mineralization. We suggest that growing antlers and compacting pedicles compete for mineral elements, with the rapidly growing antlers being the more effective sinks. The competition between the two simultaneously mineralizing structures is probably more severe in Capreolus capreolus than in other cervids. This is because roe bucks regrow their antlers during late autumn and winter, a period of limited food and associated mineral supply. The pedicle is a heavily remodeled bone structure with distinct seasonal variation in porosity. Pedicle remodeling differs in several aspects from the normal bone remodeling process in the mammalian skeleton.

Epididymectomy as a novel surgical procedure; application in the domestic cat

Feline overpopulation raises issues concerning health, ecology, economy, and ethics. Procedures to limit overpopulation should carefully address animal welfare, efficiency, costs, and feasibility. Vasectomy in unowned cats is suggested as preferable to standard neutering as it maintains male sexual behaviour which may induce ovulation and pseudopregnancy in intact females and may prevent immigration of other males. Vasectomy is not performed routinely because it is fastidious, time consuming and requires more material than standard neutering. We describe epididymectomy as an alternative. In a first experiment, we analysed semen, testosterone, behaviour and pain in six experimental cats before and after epididymectomy, and after castration two months later. Excised tissues were analysed histologically. Testosterone concentrations did not differ significantly between intact and epididymectomised animals but were significantly different after castration. Sexual behaviour and testicular spermatogenesis persisted after epididymectomy, but with a marked drop in the semen count after 7 days. The Glasgow pain scores did not differ significantly after epididymectomy and castration. In a subsequent experiment, 20 privately owned cats were epididymectomised and castrated immediately afterwards, to analyse the learning curve and perioperative complications. The time required for an epididymectomy was significantly shorter than for castration. The study confirms that epididymectomy is quicker and less invasive than castration, it is associated with minimal risks and post-operative pain while easy to learn and inexpensive. Further field studies are required to test its efficiency for feline feral population control or in other species such as in bears, lions or deer, where infertility is required and castration not wanted.

Lumbar Myelopathy Caused by Multiple Cartilaginous Exostoses in a Dog

A 6-months-old male mixed-breed dog was admitted to the veterinary hospital with lameness in the right pelvic limb, proprioceptive ataxia, and suspected spinal cord injury in the lumbosacral segment. Upon palpation, firm nodules were noted on the bony surface of the thoracic and pelvic limbs, ribs, vertebrae, and tail. The radiographic study showed nodules of low radiopacity with well-defined limits and smooth contours, one of which was overlapping the fifth lumbar vertebra. Given the clinical presentation indicative of spinal cord injury, the animal was subjected to hemilaminectomy for nodular resection. Histopathological examination of the biopsy enabled the diagnosis of osteochondroma. The clinical follow up after surgery showed improvement in walking, despite persistent monoparesis in the right pelvic limb. The radiographic study in association with clinical and histopathological exams allowed the diagnosis and monitoring of the lesions.

Anti-tumour activity of deer growing antlers and its potential applications in the treatment of malignant gliomas

A recent study showed that antlers have evolved a high rate of growth due to the expression of proto-oncogenes and that they have also evolved to express several tumour suppressor genes to control the risk of cancer. This may explain why deer antler velvet (DAV) extract shows anti-tumour activity. The fast growth of antler innervation through the velvet in close association to blood vessels provides a unique environment to study the fast but non-cancerous proliferation of heterogeneous cell populations. We set out to study the anti-cancer effect of DAV in glioblastoma (GB) cell lines in comparison with temozolomide, a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat high-grade brain tumours. Here we report, for the first time, that DAV extract from the tip, but not from mid-parts of the antler, exhibits an anti-tumour effect in GB cell lines (T98G and A172) while being non-toxic in non-cancerous cell lines (HEK293 and HACAT). In T98G cells, DAV treatment showed reduced proliferation (37.5%) and colony-formation capacity (84%), inhibited migration (39%), induced changes in cell cycle progression, and promoted apoptosis. The anticancer activity of DAV extract as demonstrated by these results may provide a new therapeutic strategy for GB treatment.

Ontogenetic changes of tissue compartmentalization and bone type distribution in the humerus of Soay sheep

We studied ontogenetic changes of histomorphological features and bone type distribution in the humeral midshaft region of Soay sheep from three postnatal age classes (13, 25, and 33 months). Our study demonstrated a marked change of bone type distribution in the humeri with age. In the cortical midshaft region of 13-month-old individuals, periosteal fibrolamellar bone was the dominating bone type. This indicates a rapid bone growth during the first year of life, which was only interrupted by a seasonal growth arrest in the animals' first winter. In individuals from the two older age classes, periosteal lamellar-zonal bone and intermediate fibrolamellar bone had been formed at the periosteal surface, and endosteal lamellar-zonal bone at the endosteal surface. These bone types are indicative of a reduced bone growth rate. A marked reduction in radial growth was already recorded in the 25-month-old individuals. Distribution and extent of secondary bone showed a marked bilateral symmetry in the humeri of individual sheep. The presence of secondary bone was largely restricted to the anterior (cranial) and the medial cortical areas. This characteristic distribution of remodeling activity within the humeral cortex of sheep is consistent with the view that remodeling activity is largely caused by compressive stress. Our study further demonstrated the presence of a considerable cortical drift in the sheep humeri over the study period, with endosteal resorption occurring predominantly in the posterior (caudal) quadrant and formation of a prominent endosteal lamellar pocket in the anterior (cranial) and medial cortical quadrants.

Antlers - Evolution, development, structure, composition, and biomechanics of an outstanding type of bone

Antlers are bony appendages of deer that undergo periodic regeneration from the top of permanent outgrowths (the pedicles) of the frontal bones. Of the "less familiar" bone types whose study was advocated by John Currey to gain a better understanding of structure-function relationships of mineralized tissues and organs, antlers were of special interest to him. The present review summarizes our current knowledge about the evolution, development, structure, mineralization, and biomechanics of antlers and how their formation is affected by environmental factors like nutrition. Furthermore, the potential role of antlers as a model in bone biology and several fields of biomedicine as well as their use as a monitoring tool in environmental studies are discussed.

Osteochondromatosis (multiple cartilaginous exostoses) in an immature killer whale Orcinus orca

An immature killer whale Orcinus orca found dead on the southeastern Brazilian coast had multiple bone proliferations: on the skull, vertebrae, hemal arches, and ribs. The bony formations were characterized as multiple osteochondromas, as defined by osteochondromatosis. The diagnosis was based on macroscopic and radiographic observations. These benign osseocartilaginous tumors affect young individuals and grow until skeletal maturity is achieved. Case reports of this condition, besides humans, include other mammals, with most reports for pets and domestic mammals such as cattle, and a report in a fossil canid (Hesperocyon) from the Oligocene. The etiology, diagnosis, developmental characteristics, and occurrence of osteochondromas are distinct among different species. This report describes the first case of multiple osteochondromas in a wild cetacean.

Rare Osteochondroma Associated with Natural Mortality of a Wild White-Tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus)

Within a 6-mo period, a radio-collared, white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) doe from Delaware, US, developed a fatal head mass consistent with osteochondroma. We suspected a retroviral etiology, but test results were negative. Population implications were not suspected, but this case is concerning as these tumors are not thought to cause mortality.