Expression of TGF Beta Receptor 1 in Sika Deer Antler

Deer antler is the unique mammalian tissue which can fully regenerate after losing. Therefore, deer antlers provide an excellent model to study the developmental regulation of mammalian tissues. The expression and regulatory mechanism of transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 (TGF-β receptor 1) to the rapid growth of deer antler was explored through the research on growing tip in sika deer antler using in situ hybridization. The results showed that TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA was mainly expressed in the proliferating cells of the dermis and the chondrocytes of the cartilage columns. The respective positive cells were the fibroblasts of the dermis, the maturing chondroblasts and the mature cartilage region cells. The expression of TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA signal could be detected in the fibrous region of the perichondrium. The signal was mainly showed on periosteal fibrous cells, while the signal on cells around the blood vessel was weak. TGF-β receptor 1 mRNA was lowly expressed in the mesenchyme, the positive cells were the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. However, the mRNA expression of TGF-β receptor 1 in the epidermis of sika deer antler could only be detected at a low level and there was no detectable signal in the perivascular cells and hair follicle and sebaceous glands. The results suggest that TGF-β receptor 1 may contribute to the deer antler epidermal cell differentiation and dermis fibroblasts rapid proliferation, thereby increase the growth rate of the deer antler skin to coordinate with the rapid growth of deer antler cartilage.