Deer Antler, Volume 2: Biomedical Models, Ethical Issues and Tailored Techniques - Chunyi Li

This book provides a systematic overview of deer antler biology and the ten biomedical models derived from it. Deer antlers are unique mammalian bony organs: they are shed and fully regenerated each year, offering an exceptional opportunity to study natural organ regeneration; they grow at an extraordinary rate (up to 2 cm per day) without becoming cancerous; and they undergo a complete annual reversal of severe physiological osteoporosis, providing an unparalleled natural model for osteoporosis research. This book presents a timely and comprehensive review of advances in deer antler research over recent decades, compiling key findings into a cohesive and accessible resource. It serves as a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and professionals across the biomedical sciences.

Volume 2 defines deer antlers as the only mammalian epimorphic regeneration model, driven by pedicle stem cell based blastema formation. It highlights neural crest origins, rapid healing, avian like ossification, cancer resistance, dead–living tissue tolerance, cyclic osteoporosis reversal, and broad translational potential in regeneration, cancer, inflammation, and bone repair.