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Cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of growing pig cranial sutures
Author(s) -
Sun Zongyang,
Lee Eugenia,
Herring Susan W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2007.00761.x
Subject(s) - cell growth , fibrous joint , runx2 , progenitor cell , bone growth , cellular differentiation , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , medicine , stem cell , osteoblast , in vitro , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Bone growth at the cranial sutures relies on proliferation of osteogenic progenitor cells and/or differentiation of osteoblasts. The current study was undertaken to assess these events in relation to suture growth and fusion. A total of 21 pigs, divided into three age groups (0.5–1.5 months, 3–4 months and 5–7 months), were used for immunohistochemical evaluation of cell proliferation (BrdU) and osteogenic differentiation (Cbfa1/Runx2) in the interfrontal and interparietal sutures. Proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were both more prominent near the bone fronts than in the central zone. With age, both proliferation and osteogenic differentiation diminished. Proliferation ceased on the endocranial (dura mater) side by the age of 3–4 months. Proliferation on the pericranial side was accompanied by active bone formation and initiation of suture fusion from this side. In conclusion, (1) decreased suture bone growth with age reflects decreased cell proliferation and probably also osteogenic differentiation, and (2) suture fusion occurs from the pericranial side where activity remains relatively high.