• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2012

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is generally considered dead woody material in various stages of forest decomposition and has been hypothesized to be an important habitat feature for mammals in forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Sherman and pitfall trapping were conducted for 2 years on three paired sites with low and high amounts of CWD. Deer mice was the dominant species with a total capture of 605 (45.6%). Four species of insectivores were captured, including Sorex moncicolus, S. trowbridgii, S. vagrans, and Neurotrichus gibbsii. A Poisson regression model was used to test whether 11 CWD variables could predict insectivore captures. The volume of logs and mean decay were important variables for deer mice use of CWD. Mean distance from pieces of CWD to the capture point was significantly related to the total number of captures of trowbridge shrew (Sorex trowbridgii) and all insectivore species. Vagrant shrews (Sorex vagrans) were significantly associated with log volume. Retaining large size CWD should be part of a management plan for ground-dwelling insectivores in forests to secure their biodiversity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.11-15
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• 1981

Antler, deer horn, occupies a particular place in oriental folk medicine as so called tonic remedy. In order to study on the effects of Antler water extract on stress resistance in mice, quantitative response was measured for the change of spontaneous activity by chemical stress drugs in the control group or the Antler water extract pretreated group. Spontaneous activity in mice was measured by counting the number of interruptions of light. The results of experiment were summerized as follows; I) In case of administrating Antler water extract 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 50mg/kg, and 100mg/kg, no significant change was observed in spontaneous activity in comparison with the control group. II) In case of administrating Antler water extract for 5 days or 10 days, no significant change was observed in spontaneous activity by chemical stress drugs, caffein and chloropromazine, in comparison with the control group.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2006

Objectives : The effect of water extract of the pilose antler of Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe (Nokyong), a traditional immuno-suppressive and immuno-activating Korean oriental medicine, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model was studied. Identification of common Nokyong capable of affording protection or modulating the onset and severity of arthritis may have important human health implications. Methods : Nokyong has shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties in experimental animals. In this study we determined the effect of DAE on collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Results : In three independent experiments mice given DAE in water exhibited significantly reduced incidence of arthritis (33% to 50%) as compared with mice given no DAE in water (84% to 100%). The arthritis index also was significantly lower in DAE-fed animals. Western blot analysis showed a marked reduction in the expression of inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), $Interferon-{\gamma}\;(INF-{\gamma})$, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ in arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. The neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity was approximately 6-fold higher in arthritic joints of non-DAE-fed mice in comparison to nonarthritic joints of nonimmunized mice whereas it was only 2-fold higher in the arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. Additionally, total IgG and type II collagen-specific IgG levels were lower in the arthritic joints of DAE-fed mice. Conclusion : Taken together our studies suggest that DAE may be useful in the prevention of onset and severity of arthritis.

• Korean Deer Journal
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• no.8
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• pp.3-10
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• 1989

Systematic pharmacological studies on powdered whole part of unossified antler obtained from Cervus nippon var. mantchuricus have been carried out in mice and rats. Powdered antler, with a single oral administration, showed a very weak acute and subacute

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 1981

It has been confirmed that two dendrograms resulted from two similarity matrices, average taxonomic distance and correlation coefficient matrices, are different with each other when cluster analyses were performed with 571 adults of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus using 30 morphometric characters. To choose one of two similarity matrices mentioned above in order to construct a dendrogram representing phenetic relationships among taxa, an objective method using the result from principal component analysis as a standard result to compare with two matrices has been suggested.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.167-181
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• 2007

Objectives: To evaluate expression of MIF mRNA, MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-6R-{\alpha}$, STAT-3, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, COX-2 and iNOS, MMP-9mRNA after injecting deer antler herbal acupuncture solution in a LPS rat model. Methods: The experiment was divided in category of the control group, RA group, and NA group. RA was induced in the mice via injecting 300ug/kg LPS. The deer antler herbal acupuncture solution 50ug/kg was applied on $ST_{35}$(犢鼻) and EX-LE201(內膝眼) for 19days from $3^{rd}$ day of RA inducement. Results: 1. In the deer antler herbal acupuncture solution treated RAW 264.7cell, the mRNA expression of cytokines, RA related inflammation factors, such as the MIF, COX- 2, iNOS, and MMP-g reduced concentration dependently. 2. In the deer antler herbal acupuncture treated mice's synovial membrane, decrease in the cell replication of synovial joint cells, regeneration of blood vessel, fibrosis and fibroblastic cells expansion were observed. 3. Positive reaction of RA-related cytokines MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-6R-{\alpha}$, STAT3, COX-2, iNOS, $NF-\;{\kappa}B$ p65, MMP-9 was reduced. Conclusion : On the basis of the results, it was concluded that deer antler herbal acupuncture extract has significant protecting ability against acute progressive RA by inhibiting the production of MIF, as a top in cytokines related to inflammation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.166-182
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• 2022

Deer antler velvet is widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-aging, antioxidant, and immunity-enhancing effects. However, few studies have reported on the discovery of probiotic strains for deer antler fermentation to increase functional ingredient absorption. This study evaluated the ability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to enhance the concentrations of bioactive molecules (e.g., sialic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in extracts of deer antler velvet. Seventeen strains of Lactobacillus spp. that were isolated from kimchi and infant feces, including L. sakei, L. rhamnosus, L. brevis, and L. plantarum, and those that improved the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans were selected for evaluation. Of the 17 strains, 2 (L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007) were selected based on data showing that these strains increased both the sialic acid and GABA contents of deer antler extract after fermentation for 2 d and significantly improved the life span of C. elegans. Co-fermentation with both strains further increased the concentrations of sialic acid, GABA, and metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. We evaluated the biological effects of the fermented antler velvet (FAV) on the antibacterial immune response in C. elegans by assessing worm survival after pathogen infection. The survival of the C. elegans conditioned with FAV for 24h was significantly higher compared with that of the control worm group fed only normal feed (non-pathogenic E. coli OP50) exposed to E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Listeria monocytogenes. To evaluate the protective effects of FAV on immune response, cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immune-suppressing agent was treated to in vitro and in vivo. We found that FAV significantly restored viability of mice splenocytes and immune promoting-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], interferon [IFN]-γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were activated compared to non-fermented deer antlers. This finding indicated the protective effect of FAV against Cy-induced cell death and immunosuppressed mice. Taken together, our study suggests that immune-promoting antler velvet can be produced through fermentation using L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.430-441
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• 2023

Velvet antler is widely used as a traditional medicine, and numerous studies have demonstrated its tremendous nutritional and medicinal values including immunity-enhancing effects. This study aimed to investigate different deer velvet extracts (Sample 1: raw extract, Sample 2: dried extract, and Sample 3: freeze-dried extract) for proximate composition, uronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycan, sialic acid, collagen levels, and chemical components using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-light mass spectrometry. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of the deer velvet extracts on BV2 microglia, HT22 hippocampal cells, HaCaT keratinocytes, and RAW264.7 macrophages using the cell viability MTT assay. Furthermore, we evaluated acute toxicity of the deer velvet extracts at different doses (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) administered orally to both male and female ICR mice for 14 d (five mice per group). After treatment, we evaluated general toxicity, survival rate, body weight changes, mortality, clinical signs, and necropsy findings in the experimental mice based on OECD guidelines. The results suggested that in vitro treatment with the evaluated extracts had no cytotoxic effect in HaCaT keratinocytes cells, whereas Sample-2 had a cytotoxic effect at 500 and 1000 ㎍/mL on HT22 hippocampal cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Sample 3 was also cytotoxic at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ㎍/mL to RAW264.7 and BV2 microglial cells. However, the mice treated in vivo with the velvet extracts at doses of 500-2000 mg/kg BW showed no clinical signs, mortality, or necropsy findings, indicating that the LD50 is higher than this dosage. These findings indicate that there were no toxicological abnormalities connected with the deer velvet extract treatment in mice. However, further human and animal studies are needed before sufficient safety information is available to justify its use in humans.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.73-90
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• 2006

Objectives : The effects of water extract of deer antler herbal-acupunture solution(DHS), prepared from the pilose antler of Cervus korea TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe (Nokyong), a traditional immunosuppressive and immune-activating Korean herbal- acupuncture, on collagen-induced arthritis(CIA:RA model) in mice was studied. Destruction of cartilage and bone are hallmarks of human rheumatoid arthritis, and controlling these erosive processes is the most challenging objective in the treatment of RA. Methods : We investigated the tissue protective effects of deer antler treatment using established murine collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) as a model. Potential synergy of low dosages of anti-inflammatory glucocorticosteroids and deer antler was also evaluated. Results : Treatment of established murine CIA with deer antler herbal-acupunture solution(DHS) $(10-50{\mu}g/day)$ suppressed disease activity and protected against cartilage and bone destruction. Although $10-50{\mu}g/day$ DHS had only a moderate effect on the inflammatory component of the disease activity, it strongly reduced cartilage pathology, as determined by histological examination. Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP) levels were significantly reduced, confirming decreased cartilage involvement. Histological analysis showed that bone destruction was prevented. DHS administration increased serum IL-1Ra levels and reduced anticollagen type II antibody levels. Treatment with low-dose $DHS(1{\mu}g/day)$ was ineffective in suppressing disease score, serum COMP or joint destruction. Synergistic suppression of both arthritis oseverity and COMP levels was noted when low-dose DHS was combined with prednisolone(0.05mg/kg/day), however, which in itself was not effective. Conclusion : DHS was shown to have the inhibiting effects against $IL-1{\alpha}-$ and $IL-1{\beta}-stimulated$ bone resorption. These results indicated that the DAS is not only highly stable and applicable to clinical uses in bone resorption, but also it will be served as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents for treatment of human RA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2005

Objective : Dear antler (Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe) used for traditional immunosuppressive and immuno-activating action. The effect of deer antler herbal-acupuncture(DAH) solution, prepared by water extract method, on cathepsin activities in bone tissues (cartilage and synovial) cells from mouse rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model was studied. The cysteine endoprotease cathepsin mediates degradation of the MHC class II invariant chain (Ii) in human and mouse antigen-presenting cells. The studies described here examine the functional significance of cathepsin inhibition on autoantigen presentation and organ-specific autoimmune diseases in a murine model for RA. Methods : An animal model for RA in BALB/c mice thymectomized 3 days after birth (3d-Tx) was constructed All 3d-Tx BALB/c mice developed autoimmune lesions in the bone tissue cells, starting at 3 weeks of age, and the disease mediated by CD4+ T cells was chronic and progressive. Significant inhibitory effects of DAH solution on cathepsin S and L were observed in each organ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we confirmed that cathepsin S and L activity in each organ were clearly inhibited by DAB solution. When we examined the inhibitory effects of DAH solution against autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro, in regional lymph node cells, but not in spleens, from model mice, a significant inhibitory effect of DAB solution was observed in a dose-dependent manner. DAH solution do not block T cell proliferation to Con A, indicated that the dose of DAB solution 10 to $20\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ was sufficient to inactivate the autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro. In vivo therapeutic effects of DAB solution were examined in a murine model for RA, autoantigen-specific (C-II-specific) T cell response were significantly inhibited in LNCs from DAH solution-treated mice. Results : Iinhibition of cathepsin S and L in vivo alters autoantigen presentation and development of organ-specific autoimmunity in RA model. Conclusion : These data identify selective inhibition of cysteine protease cathepsin S and L as a potential therapeutic strategy for autoimmune disease process such RA. Thus, DAH solution will served as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents for treatment of human RA.