Cervidae,a major group of ruminant mammals,and China has the richest deer germplasm resources in the world.Compared with other ruminants,the most unique feature of Cervidae is the possession of organogenic bony horns that can regenerate periodically.The morphology of antlers varies greatly among different deer species,with the complex and large antlers primarily used for male competition during the mating season.Investigating the function and evolution of antlers is of great value to animal genetics,behavioral,and ecological studies.The growth and development of antlers are regulated by numerous factors.The annual regeneration and rapid growth mechanism of deer antlers make them an ideal model for studying organ regeneration in mammals.Furthermore,the rapid proliferation of antler cells with minimal occur-rence of cancer provides a new perspective for cancer research.Research on the mechanisms of antler growth,develop-ment and regeneration mechanisms has yielded many important results in recent years.This article provides an overview of biological characteristics and research progress on the initial development,maturation,shedding,and regeneration pro-cesses of antlers,aiming to lay a theoretical foundation for the protection and utilization of germplasm resources of Cervi-dae,as well as the in-depth analysis of the genetic mechanism of antlers'unique properties.
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
