Development of a PCR-based assay to differentiate Cervus elaphus sibiricus from Cervus antlers

Abstract

Deer antlers (Cervi Parvum Cornu) are reported to possess various pharmacological properties, including anti-infective, anti-arthritic, anti-allergic, and anti-endometriotic properties, and are credited with reversing memory impairment. To determine the global distribution of Cervus subspecies by analyzing antlers, 166 samples of Cervus subspecies antlers were collected from Russia, Canada, China, New Zealand, and Korea. The respective deer subspecies were identified by amplifying the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA isolated from the antler samples. On the basis of the mitochondrial DNA sequence, a C. elaphus sibiricus-specific primer was developed that differentiates C. e. sibiricus from four C. e. subspecies (C. e. manitobensis, C. e. nelsoni, C. e. canadensis, and C. e. bactrianus), C. elaphus, and C. nippon. This was confirmed using agarose gel electrophoresis. This primer set produced a specific 396-bp fragment that amplified only C. e. sibiricus in antler samples. A 468-bp fragment derived from the cytochrome b gene was used as the internal control to verify the success of amplification in all samples. This method may assist in rapid and effective differentiation between products from Cervus species and other deer products.