Search

Aim: To study the effects of velvet antler (VA) total polypeptides (VATP) and VA polypeptides, VAP-A, VAP-B, and VAP-C on proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblast precusors., Methods: Chondrocytes (rabbit and human fetus) and osteoblast precusors (chick embryo) were incubated in the culture medium containing VATP or VAP-A, VAP-B, and VAP-C. [3H]TdR incorporation into DNA was measured. Fracture healing-promoting action of VATP was determined in rats., Results: VATP 50-200 mg.L-1 and VAP-B 12.5, 25, and 50 mg.L-1 showed most marked proliferation-promoting activity for rabbit costed chondrocytes and increased incorporation of [3H]TdR from (73 +/- 9) Bq (control group) to (272 +/- 55), (327 +/- 38), and (415 +/- 32) Bq, respectively (P < 0.01). The activity of VAP-A was weaker than that of VAP-B, and VAP-C had no activity. VATP 10 and 20 mg.kg-1 by local injection into the cross-section fracture area accelerated healing of radial fracture. The healing rate of VATP-treated group was higher (75%) than that of control group (25%) (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: VATP accelerated fracture healing by stimulating proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblast precursors.

Pilose antler peptide (PAP:MW:7200; amino acid residue:68) isolated from the antlers of Cervus nippon temminck 10 and 20 mg.kg-1 i.p. produced inhibitions towards acute and chronic inflammations in a dose-dependent manner. PAP reduced ascorbic acid and cholesterol contents in adrenal glands and decreased the serum hydrocortisone level of rats. The reduction of ascorbic acid and cholesterol contents were unaffected by the pretreatment of dexamethasone. PAP also showed an anti-inflammatory action on the swelling of carrageenan-induced hind paw in adrenalectomized rats. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of PAP do not depend absolutely on pituitary-adrenal system.

An anti-inflammatory compound was purified and isolated from pilose antler of Cervus nippon Temminck by dialysis, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography techniques. HPLC and N-terminal amion acid analysis identified the compound as a homogeneous peptide. The peptide is composed of 68 amino acids and its molecular weight as determined by amino analysis, is about 7200.

The polyamines of pilose antler (PASPA) consist of putrescine (PU, 70.9%), spermidine (SPD, 26.3%) and spermine (SP, 2.8%). The incorporations of [3H] leucine into protein and [3H] uridine into RNA in mouse liver tissue were increased when PASPA was given orally to mice at the dose of 30 mg/kg for 4 successive days. The incorporations of [3H] leucine into liver protein and [3H] uridine into the cytosolic and nuclear RNA were also increased by treatment with PU (21 mg/kg). In addition, the RNA polymerase activity in the solubilized liver nuclear fraction of PU (21 mg/kg)-treated mice was increased. SPD only promoted the synthesis of protein in mouse liver tissue at the dose of 8 mg/kg. However, SP showed no effect on the synthesis of protein and RNA polymerase activity under the used dose (1 mg/kg). The results suggest that PASPA is the main active substance responsible for the promotion of the synthesis of protein and RNA in mouse liver.