Premium
Development of basicranium in cotton‐top tamarin compared to the development of basicranium in bushbabies : Role of synchondroses and brain growth
Author(s) -
Oladipupo Lanre,
Wood Brody,
Mano Nanami,
Hughes Gabriel,
Reynolds Rebecca,
Vinyard Chris,
DeLeon Valerie,
Smith Timothy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.05776
Subject(s) - anatomy , crania , cerebellum , endocast , biology , cerebrum , skull , paleopathology , medicine , neuroscience , pathology , central nervous system
The purpose of this study is to describe basicranial and brain growth in sub‐adult cotton‐top tamarin ( Saguinus oedipus ) and compare their growth with greater bushbabies ( Otolemur spp.) based on computed tomographic (CT) imaging. Bilateral synchondroses (alisphenoid‐basisphenoid synchrondrosis, ABS) have been identified within the middle cranial fossa of bushbabies which indicate active growth centers at this stage of development. In Saguinus , the ABS fuses relatively earlier and is oriented more anteriorly than in Otolemur . In this study, we used micro‐computed tomography (CT) and imaging software (Amira) to study heads of Saguinus and Otolemur that died of natural causes at two ages: near birth and at approximately one‐month postnatal age. Using Amira, the endocranial contour of crania were manually segmented throughout serial slices, in order to generate a three‐dimensional view of an endocast. This allowed a comparison of brain shape differences between ages in each species. In both species, the occipital lobe is proportional broader and more posteriorly projected at one‐month of age. In addition, the endocast of both species are more complex in contour in the older specimens (i.e., surfaces were more rounded at birth). In Otolemur , the cerebellum and the temporal lobes are more inferiorly positioned in the older animal. In contrast, in Saguinus , the cerebellum becomes less pronounced due to a relative overgrowth of the cerebrum. Also, in Saguinus the temporal lobes are more laterally projecting and anteriorly displaced at one‐month. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the ABS fuses early in primates, and bone modeling has a primary role in accommodating postnatal shape changes in the brain. However, we note that the ABS is oriented differently (more anteriorly) in the monkey, associated with the relatively anterior displacement of the temporal lobe. Support or Funding Information NSF # BCS‐1830894, BCS‐1830919, BCS‐0959438