Morphology and Ultrastructure of Antler Velvet Hair and Body Hair from Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

The document from 2010 investigates the differences in morphology and ultrastructure between antler velvet hair and body hair of red deer (Cervus elaphus). The study found that while all hair types share the basic keratin fiber structure, there are significant variations in diameter, cuticle thickness, scale pattern, and cortex and medulla proportions. Antler velvet hairs have a complex arrangement of intermediate filaments and show damage to cuticle cells at the tips, while body hair consists of coarse guard hairs with a thick cuticle and fine, crimped underhairs similar to sheep wool. The study concludes that these structural differences contribute to the hairs' protective and insulating functions, with the ultrastructure of the hairs enhancing stiffness and resilience. Further research is suggested to explore the similarities between deer hair and human hair at a molecular level.