SEARCH FOR STEM CELLS IN THE GROWING ANTLER STAG (CERVUS ELAPHUS)

Abstract

The dynamic growth of antlers in the deer family requires that various types of cells take part and are activated. Stem cells play a significant role in initiation and continuation of the process. Most of authors express the opinion that the cells are present in regions of a unipotential tissue in the form of pedicle and antler blastema in the frontal bone. Application of specific antibodies in immunocytochemical reactions permitted to label and to localize stem cells both in vivo in growing antlers and ex vivo, in cell cultures.