Growth and development of the cranial base in mice that spontaneously develop anterior transverse crossbite

IntroductionHomozygous brachymorphic (bm/bm) mice are characterized by disproportionately short stature. Anterior transverse crossbite sometimes develops spontaneously in inbred BALB/c-bm/bm mice that produce undersulfated glycosaminoglycans. The reason for inferior growth of the craniofacial structures of BALB/c-bm/bm mice has not been clarified. We focused on the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS)—the growth site of the cranium—and investigated the growth pattern in the SOS of the BALB/c-bm/bm mice.MethodsThe BALB/c-+/+ mice and BALB/c-bm/bm mice without malocclusion were used. Sagittal sections of the cranial bases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, observed histologically, and used to measure the anteroposterior length and the percentage of active bone volume around the SOS.ResultsIn the histologic study, compared with the cartilage in the BALB/c mice, a bipolar column was not seen in the cartilage of the SOS in the BALB/c-bm/bm mice. The histomorphometric study showed that the anteroposterior length of the posterior cranial base was significantly shorter and the percentage of active bone volume was significantly smaller in the BALB/c-bm/bm mice than in the BALB/c mice.ConclusionsThe results suggested that normal endochondral growth is disturbed in the synchondrosis of the posterior base of the skull in BALB/c-bm/bm mice.