Besides a few species of amphibians and reptiles, vertebrates cannot replace lost body parts. Except for deer, that is.

Each year, through a process called epimorphic regeneration, deer shed and replace the bones that compose their antlers. The process is one of the most remarkable in the animal kingdom, but for decades scientists could not agree on how it works.

Now, a German team of researchers say the results of their experiments support the claim that stem cells activate antler regeneration. According to ScienceDaily:

[The researchers'] results are consistent with the hypothesis that the regenerating antler is built up by the progeny of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells located in the cambial layer of the pedicle periosteum [a membrane that lines the outer surface of bones]. It has recently been shown that stem cell populations exist in “niches” — specific anatomical locations that regulate how the stem cells participate in tissue generation, maintenance and repair. [The researchers] assume that such a “stem cell niche” is located in the cambial layer of the periosteum and that the regeneration of antlers is dependent on the periodic activation of these stem cells.

In larger species like the red deer, the antler regeneration induced by stem cells occurs at the extraordinary rate of one centimeter per day. Scientists hope that a better understanding of the process will lead to breakthroughs in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Perhaps one day deer won’t be the only mammal with the ability to re-grow a body part.

To learn more about red deer, tune into this week’s episode of Nature, “Prince of the Alps,” premiering May 11. The episode provides a glimpse into the world of a red deer calf as he struggles to survive. You can watch a preview of “Prince of the Alps” at Nature online.

For more information about stem cells and the crucial role they play in regenerative medicine, visit Miracle Cell. There, you can read about the stem cell controversy, watch a video about a paraplegic struggling to heal, and discover how scientists obtain embryonic stem cells.