A Factory of Bone
In the remote Altai mountains of eastern Kazakhstan lives the Altai maral (Cervus canadensis sibiricus), a large subspecies of elk. Each spring, the male maral begins an extraordinary biological process: the complete regeneration of its antlers. These are not horns, which are permanent keratin sheaths, but true bone structures that are shed and regrown annually. The growth rate is among the fastest of any animal tissue, reaching up to two centimeters per day. A mature maral can grow a rack weighing between 6 and 12 kilograms, with some specimens reaching up to 20 kg.
During this rapid growth phase, which lasts about 120 days, the antlers are soft, cartilaginous structures covered in a furry, vascularized skin called velvet. This velvet is a biological matrix with with blood vessels and nerves that supply the amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and proteins required to build the bone. The process is driven by high levels of testosterone and other growth factors. Once growth is complete in late summer, the bone mineralizes, the blood supply ceases, and the deer rubs the dried velvet off against trees.
The Chemistry of Regeneration
The unique properties of maral antler velvet have made it a subject of scientific interest and a component of traditional medicine for centuries. The velvet is harvested while the antlers are still in their growth phase, a procedure done on specialized farms. The material is a mixture of bioactive compounds. It contains a high concentration of proteins, including various types of collagen, as well as numerous amino acids.
Scientists have identified growth factors like insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), polypeptides, and proteins that are contribute to its biological activity. The velvet also contains lipids, phospholipids, and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. An alcoholic extract of the velvet, known as Pantocrin, was first registered in the Soviet Union in 1970 and is primarily composed of lipids. Research investigates the velvet's potential anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair properties. Studies have explored its effects on bone metabolism, fatigue recovery, and its use as a general health tonic.