Validity of the neck circumference for the diagnosis of obesity in school children living at high altitude / Validez de la circunferencia del cuello para el diagnóstico de obesidad en escolares que viven en altura

Background: body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to diagnose overweight and obesity, and waist circumference (WC) is used to estimate visceral fat. The measurement of WC is demanding, therefore, different studies proposed the use of neck perimeter. Objective: exploring diagnostic validity of neck perimeter to diagnose overweight and obesity in 10-12 years old children in La Paz (Bolivia). Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with a random sample of school children in El Alto (Bolivia). Weight, height, abdominal circumference and neck perimeter were measured, classifying the nutritional status with BMI-z according to the cut-off point of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The sample size was calculated for 95 % confidence level, an alpha level of 0.05 and 80 % power for diagnosis test design. To evaluate neck perimeter validity for diagnosing obesity, sensibility, specificity and positive and negative ratio likelihood were calculated using BMI gold standard according to age and sex. Results: a number of 371 school children between 10-12 years old were included and 34 % of them presented malnutrition by excess. Sensibility and specificity of the neck perimeter to diagnose overweight and obesity were 87.5-100 % and 75.7-86.3 %, respectively. Conclusion: neck perimeter in 10-12-year-old school children is a valid indicator for carrying out obesity diagnosis.(AU)

Introducción: el índice de masa corporal (IMC) se usa comúnmente para diagnosticar el sobrepeso y la obesidad, y la circunferencia de la cintura (CC), para estimar la grasa visceral. La medición de la CC es exigente y, por ello, diferentes estudios propusieron el uso del perímetro del cuello. Objetivo: explorar la validez diagnóstica del perímetro del cuello para diagnosticar sobrepeso y obesidad en niños de 10-12 años en La Paz (Bolivia). Métodos: estudio transversal con una muestra aleatoria de escolares de El Alto (Bolivia). Se midieron peso, talla, circunferencia de la muñeca, perímetro de cuello, clasificando el estado nutricional con IMC-z según el punto de corte de la clasificación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). El tamaño de la muestra se calculó para un nivel de confianza del 95 %, un nivel alfa de 0,05 y una potencia del 80 % para el diseño de la prueba de diagnóstico. Para evaluar la validez del perímetro del cuello para el diagnóstico de obesidad, se calcularon la sensibilidad, la especificidad y la razón de verosimilitud positiva y negativa utilizando el patrón oro del IMC según edad y sexo. Resultados: se incluyeron 371 escolares de 10-12 años, de los cuales el 34 % presentaba malnutrición por exceso. La sensibilidad y especificidad del perímetro del cuello para diagnosticar sobrepeso y obesidad estuvo entre 87,5-100 % y 75,7-86,3 %, respectivamente. Conclusión: el perímetro del cuello en escolares de 10-12 años es un indicador válido para realizar el diagnóstico de obesidad.(AU)

Single-cell reconstruction with spatial context of migrating neural crest cells and their microenvironments during vertebrate head and neck formation.

The dynamics of multipotent neural crest cell differentiation and invasion as cells travel throughout the vertebrate embryo remain unclear. Here, we preserve spatial information to derive the transcriptional states of migrating neural crest cells and the cellular landscape of the first four chick cranial to cardiac branchial arches (BA1-4) using label-free, unsorted single-cell RNA sequencing. The faithful capture of branchial arch-specific genes led to identification of novel markers of migrating neural crest cells and 266 invasion genes common to all BA1-4 streams. Perturbation analysis of a small subset of invasion genes and time-lapse imaging identified their functional role to regulate neural crest cell behaviors. Comparison of the neural crest invasion signature to other cell invasion phenomena revealed a shared set of 45 genes, a subset of which showed direct relevance to human neuroblastoma cell lines analyzed after exposure to the in vivo chick embryonic neural crest microenvironment. Our data define an important spatio-temporal reference resource to address patterning of the vertebrate head and neck, and previously unidentified cell invasion genes with the potential for broad impact.

Correlação da circunferência do pescoço com fatores de risco cardiovascular / Correlación de la circunferencia del cuello con los factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Correlation of neck circumference with cardiovascular risk factors

Objetivo investigar a correlação da circunferência do pescoço com outros parâmetros antropométricos, com a pressão arterial, com a glicemia capilar e com fatores de risco modificáveis e não modificáveis presentes. Método estudo transversal descritivo, com pacientes de uma policlínica, mediante aplicação de questionário semiestruturado. Circunferência do pescoço aferida considerando posição natural da cabeça, entre ponto médio cervical e do pescoço anterior. Risco cardiovascular determinado pela medida da circunferência abdominal e pelos fatores de risco modificáveis ou não modificáveis. Resultados encontradas correlações positivas entre circunferência do pescoço e índice de massa muscular, circunferência abdominal, pressão arterial sistólica, glicemia capilar e idade, além de ter sido identificado alto risco cardiovascular na maioria dos participantes do sexo masculino, com tendência de medida ser maior em indivíduos com hipertensão, diabetes e dislipidemias. Conclusão circunferência do pescoço correlacionou-se significativamente com índice de massa corpórea, circunferência abdominal, pressão sistólica, glicemia capilar e idade.

Objetivo investigar la correlación de la circunferencia del cuello con otros parámetros antropométricos, con la presión arterial, la glucemia capilar y con los factores de riesgo modificables y no modificables presentes. Método estudio descriptivo transversal, con pacientes de una policlínica, mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario semiestructurado. Circunferencia del cuello medida considerando la posición natural de la cabeza, entre el punto medio cervical y el cuello anterior. Riesgo cardiovascular determinado por la medición de la circunferencia abdominal y factores de riesgo modificables o no modificables. Resultados se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre la circunferencia del cuello y el índice de masa muscular, la circunferencia abdominal, la presión arterial sistólica, la glucemia capilar y la edad, además de haber sido identificado un alto riesgo cardiovascular en la mayoría de los participantes masculinos, con tendencia a ser mayor en individuos con hipertensión, diabetes y dislipidemias. Conclusión la circunferencia del cuello se correlacionó significativamente con el índice de masa corporal, la circunferencia abdominal, la presión sistólica, la glucemia capilar y la edad.

Objective to investigate the correlation of neck circumference with other anthropometric parameters, with blood pressure, capillary glycemia and with modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors present. Method descriptive cross-sectional study, with patients from a polyclinic, by applying a semi-structured questionnaire. Neck circumference was measured considering the natural position of the head, between cervical midpoint and anterior neck. Cardiovascular risk was determined by measurement of abdominal circumference and modifiable or non-modifiable risk factors. Results positive correlations were found between neck circumference and muscle mass index, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, capillary glycemia and age, besides identifying high cardiovascular risk in most male participants, with a tendency to be higher in individuals with hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemias. Conclusion neck circumference was significantly correlated with body mass index, abdominal circumference, systolic pressure, capillary glycemia and age.

El perímetro de cuello y su relación con los factores de riesgo cardiometabólico en las mujeres / Neck´s perimeter and its relation with the cardiometabolic risk factors in women

RESUMEN Introducción: El perímetro de cuello en la actualidad es una medida útil asociada de manera significativa a la resistencia a la insulina y al riesgo cardiometabólico. Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre el perímetro de cuello y los factores de riesgo cardiometabólico en mujeres de 45 a 60 años de edad. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio en 270 mujeres aparentemente sanas, de 45 a 60 años de edad. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas como peso corporal, índice de masa corporal, perímetro de cintura, perímetro de cuello y el tejido adiposo visceral por bioimpedancia. Se determinaron niveles séricos de glucosa, perfil lipídico (colesterol, triglicéridos, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol), HbA1c, insulina y proteína C reactiva. Resultados: El índice de masa corporal de las participantes fue de 28,2 ± 4,2. Se encontró que 38,1 por ciento de las mujeres presentaban síndrome metabólico y mayor perímetro de cuello, en comparación con las participantes sin síndrome (36,8 + 2,1 vs 35,1 + 1,6 cm, respectivamente, p< 0,0001). El perímetro de cuello se asoció positivamente con índice de masa corporal (r= 0,690, p= 0,0001), tejido adiposo visceral (r= 0,548, p= 0,0001), circunferencia de Cintura (r= 0,640, p< 0,0001), glucosa (r= 0,251, p= 0,0001), triglicéridos (r= 0,143, p= 0,019), HbA1c (r= 0,160, p= 0,010) y proteína C reactiva (r= 0,342, p= 0,001). Conclusiones: Las mujeres con incremento en el perímetro de cuello presentan un perfil de riesgo cardiometabólico aumentado. La medición del perímetro de cuello representa un método útil y práctico en la predicción del riesgo cardiometabólico(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Neck´s perimeter is nowadays a useful measure significantly associated to insulin resistance and to cardiometabolic risk. Objective: To determine the relation between the neck´s perimeter and the cardiometabolic risk factors in women from 45 to 60 years old. Methods: A study was performed in 270 apparently healthy women, aging 45 to 60 years old. Anthropometric measurements were taken such as weight, body mass index, waist circumference, neck´s perimeter and visceral adipose tissue by bioelectrical impedance analysis. There were identified serum levels of glucose, lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol), HbA1c, insulin and C-reactive protein. Results: The body mass index of the participants was 28.2 ± 4.2. It was found that 38.1 percent of the women had a metabolic syndrome and a higher perimeter of neck, in comparison with participants without the syndrome (36.8 + 2.1 vs 35.1 + 1.6 cm, respectively, p< 0.0001). The neck´s perimeter was positively associated with body mass index (r = 0.690, p= 0.0001), visceral adipose tissue (r = 0.548, p= 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.640, p< 0.0001), glucose (r = 0.251, p= 0.0001), triglycerides (r = 0.143, p = 0.019), HbA1c (r = 0.160, p = 0.010) and C-reactive protein (r = 0.342, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Women with an increase in the neck´s perimeter have a profile of increased cardiometabolic risk. The measurement of neck´s perimeter represents a useful and practical method for the prediction of cardiometabolic risk(AU)

Diversity of dermal fibroblasts as major determinant of variability in cell reprogramming.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult somatic cells genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Notwithstanding their autologous origin and their potential to differentiate towards cells of all three germ layers, iPSC reprogramming is still affected by low efficiency. As dermal fibroblast is the most used human cell for reprogramming, we hypothesize that the variability in reprogramming is, at least partially, because of the skin fibroblasts used. Human dermal fibroblasts harvested from five different anatomical sites (neck, breast, arm, abdomen and thigh) were cultured and their morphology, proliferation, apoptotic rate, ability to migrate, expression of mesenchymal or epithelial markers, differentiation potential and production of growth factors were evaluated in vitro. Additionally, gene expression analysis was performed by real-time PCR including genes typically expressed by mesenchymal cells. Finally, fibroblasts isolated from different anatomic sites were reprogrammed to iPSCs by integration-free method. Intriguingly, while the morphology of fibroblasts derived from different anatomic sites differed only slightly, other features, known to affect cell reprogramming, varied greatly and in accordance with anatomic site of origin. Accordingly, difference also emerged in fibroblasts readiness to respond to reprogramming and ability to form colonies. Therefore, as fibroblasts derived from different anatomic sites preserve positional memory, it is of great importance to accurately evaluate and select dermal fibroblast population prior to induce reprogramming.

Analysis of mesenchymal cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, synovial fluid and mesenteric, neck and tail adipose tissue sources from equines.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in equines as an alternative therapy. A comparative study about the phenotype and in vitro performance of different MSCs tissue sources in adult equines was needed. This study might serve to provide the knowledge to select a valuable harvesting source of MSCs. Bone marrow, synovial and adipose (mesenteric, neck and tail fat) tissues were collected from adult equines. Cell surface markers expression (CD11α/CD18, CD45, CD79α, CD90, CD105 and MHC II) and in vitro differentiation assays were made. In vitro cell migration, cell growth and wound healing capacity tests helped to study their behavior and properties. MSCs phenotype was positively confirmed by the cell surfaces markers and a tri-lineage differentiation profile. Bone marrow cells showed the highest migration capacity, while synovial fluid cells displayed the highest cell growth. Bone marrow cells showed a better wound healing when compared with all the different MSCs. We conclude that bone marrow, synovial and adipose tissue derived from adult equines are a good source for cell therapy but they conserve different functional properties: bone marrow showed an interesting migration and wound healing capacity while synovial fluid cells and their highest cell growth suggest that these MSCs would yield higher cell numbers in a shorter time.

Early postnatal maturation in vestibulospinal pathways involved in neck and forelimb motor control.

To assess the organization and functional development of vestibulospinal inputs to cervical motoneurons (MNs), we have used electrophysiology (ventral root and electromyographic [EMG] recording), calcium imaging, trans-synaptic rabies virus (RV) and conventional retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry in the neonatal mouse. By stimulating the VIIIth nerve electrically while recording synaptically mediated calcium responses in MNs, we characterized the inputs from the three vestibulospinal tracts, the separate ipsilateral and contralateral medial vestibulospinal tracts (iMVST/cMVST) and the lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST), to MNs in the medial and lateral motor columns (MMC and LMC) of cervical segments. We found that ipsilateral inputs from the iMVST and LVST were differentially distributed to the MMC and LMC in the different segments, and that all contralateral inputs to MMC and LMC MNs in each segment derive from the cMVST. Using trans-synaptic RV retrograde tracing as well as pharmacological manipulation of VIIIth nerve-elicited synaptic responses, we found that a substantial proportion of inputs to both neck and forelimb extensor MNs was mediated monosynaptically, but that polysynaptic inputs were also significant. By recording EMG responses evoked by natural stimulation of the vestibular apparatus, we found that vestibular-mediated motor output to the neck and forelimb musculature became more robust during the first 10 postnatal days, concurrently with a decrease in the latency of MN discharge evoked by VIIIth nerve electrical stimulation. Together, these results provide insight into the complexity of vestibulospinal connectivity in the cervical spinal cord and a cogent demonstration of the functional maturation that vestibulospinal connections undergo postnatally. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 1061-1077, 2016.

Longitudinal study of cephalometric soft tissue profile traits between the ages of 6 and 18 years.

OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal changes in 19 soft tissue cephalometric traits (according to the Bergman cephalometric soft tissue facial analysis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cephalograms and photographs of 40 subjects (20 male, 20 female, from the Burlington Growth Centre) that were obtained at ages 6, 9, 12, 14, 16, and 18 years were used. Subjects were orthodontically untreated whites and had Class I dentoskeletal relationships (ideal overjet and overbite). Images were obtained with the lips in a relaxed position or lightly touching. RESULTS: Three groups of soft tissue traits were identified: (1) traits that increased in size with growth (nasal projection, lower face height, chin projection, chin-throat length, upper and lower lip thickness, upper lip length, and lower lip-chin length); (2) traits that decreased in size with growth (interlabial gap and mandibular sulcus contour [only in females]); and (3) traits that remained relatively constant during growth (facial profile angle, nasolabial angle, lower face percentage, chin-throat/lower face height percentage, lower face-throat angle, upper incisor exposure, maxillary sulcus contour, and upper and lower lip protrusion). CONCLUSION: Current findings identify areas of growth and change in individuals with Class I skeletal and dental relationships with ideal overjet and overbite and should be considered during treatment planning of orthodontic and orthognathic patients.

Developmental biomechanics of neck musculature.

Neck mechanics is central to head injury prevention since it is the musculoskeletal neck, which dictates the position and movement of the head. In the US, traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for children; however prevention is hampered by the lack of data concerning the mechanics of the immature head-and-neck. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify neck muscle strength and endurance across the maturation spectrum and correlate these with head-and-neck anthropometry. A factorial study was performed on 91 human subjects measuring head-and-neck anthropometry and neck strength and endurance in three bending directions (flexion, extension, and lateral) as a function of age (6-23 years). Using a custom device, neck maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force was measured in triplicate. Next, neck muscle endurance (sustained effort) was measured as the subjects' ability to maintain 70% of peak force over 30s. Linear regression of peak force and endurance as a function of age revealed each direction to significantly (p<0.0001) increase with age. The MVC force, averaged across all directions and normalized to the adult values, exhibits the following maturation curve: %MVC Force=-0.0879(age)(2)+6.018(age)+8.120. Neck muscle strength, similar between young males and females, becomes disparate in adolescence and adulthood with males exhibiting greater strength. Bending direction differences were also found with extension strength being the greatest regardless of age and sex. Furthermore, neck circumference appears predictive of neck strength and endurance in children. Together, these relationships may facilitate improved design of injury prevention interventions.

Desarrollo de Cara y Cuello en Vertebrados / Face and Neck Development in Vertebrates

El desarrollo embrionario de las regiones facial, del cuello, cavidades nasales y oral en conjunto con las glándulas asociadas, involucra el crecimiento y fusión tridimensional de múltiples procesos. Existe participación de elementos derivados de las 3 capas embrionarias locales y adicionalmente de células derivas de la cresta neural, procedentes de los rombómeros vecinos. Estas últimas se ven involucradas en la formación del esqueleto local, entre otras estructuras. El estudio evolutivo desde los vertebrados sin mandíbula nos enseña como se expresan los genes Hox en las diferentes especies, y como esto determina la formación de diferentes estructuras. En la siguiente revisión contemplamos algunos aspectos morfológicos, moleculares y evolutivos básicos del desarrollo facial y cervical, con énfasis en mamíferos con un epílogo referente a las malformaciones de la región en humanos.

The embryonic development of the facial area, neck, nasal, oral and pharyngeal cavities with glands, involves growth and fusion of multi-dimensional processes. There is involvement of elements from the embryo-derived local 3 layers cells further neural crest derived cells from the neighbors rhombomeres. The neural crest cells are involved in the formation of local skeleton, among other structures. The study of evolution from jawless vertebrates shows us how Hox genes are expressed in different species, and how this determines the formation of different structures. The following review contemplate some morphological, molecular and evolutionary basis of facial and neck development, with emphasis on mammals with an epilogue concerning to the face and neck malformations in humans.

[Efferent innervation of the cervical region of the trachea during the early postnatal ontogenesis].

Method based on retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase was used to study the efferent innervation of the cervical trachea in neonatal, 10-, 20-, 30-day-old and two-month-old kittens. In all the animals, labeled neurons were localized in the cranial cervical, middle cervical and cervicothoracic (stellate) sympathetic ganglia both on the right and on the left sides. Neurons were also localized at the level of medulla oblongata, in the dorsal and ambiguus nuclei of the vagus nerve. Labeled neurons were also found in the ventral horns of C(I-)C(V) spinal segments in the animals before 30 days of life. The number of sympathetic neurons, innervating the trachea, cells increased from the moment of birth, reaching a maximum by the age of 10 and 20 days and then declined up to the second month of life. The total number of parasympathetic neurons decreased gradually in the early development.

A longitudinal evaluation of sleep and breathing in the first year after cervical spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the incidence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) after acute tetraplegia and to determine the relation between the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) score and the previously postulated predictors of SDB in tetraplegia. DESIGN: Inception cohort. We performed full polysomnography immediately after acute tetraplegia and at 2, 4, 13, 26, and 52 weeks postinjury. Spirometry, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, medication usage, and neck and abdominal girth were also assessed. Preinjury SDB was estimated using the multivariate apnea prediction equation. SETTING: Acute care, subacute care, and community. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample with acute tetraplegia. Thirty subjects (25 men) were initially included. Thirteen completed 12 months of follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SDB (AHI score >10 events/h) and respiratory function. RESULTS: Three subjects (10%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2%-28%) had probable SDB before injury. In the first 48 hours after injury, no subject had SDB. At 2 weeks, 60% (95% CI, 26%-88%) had SDB; at 4 weeks, 62% (95% CI, 38%-82%); at 13 weeks, 83% (95% CI, 61%-95%); at 26 weeks, 68% (95% CI, 44%-88%); and at 52 weeks, 62% (95% CI, 32%-86%). No consistent relation was found between the previously postulated predictors and SDB. CONCLUSIONS: SDB is highly prevalent within 4 weeks of acute tetraplegia.

Evaluation of systematic errors in thyroid monitoring.

In this manuscript the thyroid is described by a new model. Efficiencies of a NaI(Tl) detector, for 364 keV photons, are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. Contributions from thyroid size, detector placement and tissue overlay thickness, to the efficiency uncertainty, are evaluated considering the thyroid of a 12 year old subject as a limit for the adult thyroid. For a shielded 3" x 3" NaI(Tl) detector, placed at 20 cm from the neck, a contribution of 18% to the efficiency uncertainty was found.

On the pattern of organ growth in the common tern (Sterna hirundo).

Data are presented on the pattern of organ growth in the Common Tern, a semi-precocial bird species with a high growth rate, and are compared with data from some bird species within the altricial-precocial spectrum. The data show that a high growth rate is linked to a growth pattern characterized by a rapid early development of the digestive organs and a late development of pectoral muscles and feathers. These results suggest that the growth rate is most likely restricted by the capacity to ingest and digest food. It also appears that the organ growth pattern is more closely related to the growth rate than to the degree of precocity.

Linear features of Polish population in the years 1962-1992. Tendencies in changes.

Cross-sectional material gathered in the years 1962-1992 in a group of 7001 men and 3852 women served as a basis for some measurements of body height (V-B), trunk length (sst-sy), lower limb length (sy-B), upper limb length (a-da), and length of the head together with the neck (V-sst). On the basis of results of mean values obtained from an annual series of examinations--altogether 31 observations were carried out--some statistical methods of analysis were applied with reference to each feature, among others the method of a simple moving average and linear regression of smoothed trend curves. The obtained results allow an evaluation of the dimorphic differences in the size of changes of particular linear features and a determination of the direction of these changes. A greater dynamism of the growth of body height and trunk length as well as tendencies of decreasing the length of lower limbs were observed in men, whereas the dynamism of changes with reference to the length of the head together with the neck was smaller than in women. The pace of changes of the analyzed linear features indicates clearly the process of deepening the differences in the proportions of body build.

Evaluation of short neck: new neck length percentiles and linear correlations with height and sitting height.

Qualitative impressions of neck length are often used as aids to dysmorphology in syndromes like Turner, Noonan, Klippel-Feil and in craniovertebral anomalies, some of which have serious neurological implications. There are no national or international standards for neck length. The present study attempted to create standards and percentile charts for Indian children and compute age-independent correlations of neck length with linear measurements such as standing and sitting height. A total of 2724 children of both sexes between 3 and 15 years, whose heights and weights conformed to ICMR standards were inducted. Neck length was measured by a modified two-point discriminator between two fixed bony points-inion and spinous process of C7 with the head held in neutral position. Percentiles (5th-95th) were constructed for both sexes. Growth was rapid from 3 to 6 years. Neck length formed a mean of 12.7 +/- 4.58% of height and 20.1 +/- 6.73% of sitting height. Age independent linear regression equations: Neck length = 10 + (0.035 x height) and Neck length = 9.65 + (0.07 x sitting height) were highly significant (p < 0.001). Neck length relationships of 30 randomly selected normal children clustered around the regression lines and 16 with genetic syndromes fell below the regression lines.

Effects of an antiandrogen treatment on morphological characters and physiological functions of male fallow deer (Dama dama L.).

From mid-April to late November, i.e., during antler growth phase and main breeding season, a group of four (later three) male fallow deer was treated with increasing doses of the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate (CA). Throughout the treatment period, plasma testosterone levels of the bucks were either undetectable or only slightly above the detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml. In marked contrast to controls, testicular volumes and neck girths of the CA treated bucks were basal during the application period, proving the strong antigonadotropic effect of CA (testicular volume) and the absence of androgen action at the normal target organs (neck girths), respectively. Antler growth in the CA treated bucks occurred during the normal time span for fallow deer and the antlers produced were of species specific shape. From this it is concluded that in fallow deer, onset, duration, and termination of antler growth are independent of androgen action. Velvet shedding in the CA treated bucks however did not occur at the normal time (late August/early September), but was postponed until late December/early January, i.e., about 5 weeks after the termination of CA application. Activity of alkaline phosphatase in the experimental animals increased during the antler growth phase, but was markedly lower than in controls. Maximum body weight in the CA treated bucks was reached already in June, i.e., about 3 months prior to controls. Furthermore, the rut associated, drastic decline in body weight observed in controls did not occur in the experimental animals.