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Measuring Bone Remodeling and Recreating the Tumor-Bone Microenvironment Using Calvaria Co-culture and Histomorphometry
Published on: March 14, 2020
Apoptosis in murine calvarial bone and suture development
D P Rice1, H J Kim, I Thesleff
1Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland. Rice@operoni.helsinki.fi
European Journal of Oral Sciences
|September 1, 1999
Summary
Apoptosis plays a key role in skull bone and suture development. This programmed cell death is essential for normal skull growth, with disruptions potentially causing craniosynostosis or cleidocranial dysplasia.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Craniofacial Development
Background:
- Calvarial bone and suture development are complex processes.
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is implicated in tissue morphogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of apoptosis in mouse calvarial bone and suture development.
- To analyze the expression of key genes (Msx2, Bmp4, Bmp7) involved in apoptosis during this process.
Main Methods:
- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay on whole mount and sectioned calvariae (E14-P6).
- In situ hybridization to detect Msx2, Bmp4, and Bmp7 gene expression.
Main Results:
- TUNEL-positive cells were observed from embryonic day 16 onwards in calvariae, sutures, and fontanelles.
- Apoptotic cells included osteoblasts, preosteoblasts, mesenchymal cells, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and dural cells.
- Msx2, Bmp4, and Bmp7 genes showed specific expression patterns in the developing calvaria and associated tissues.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis is an integral part of normal calvarial suture development.
- This process is crucial for maintaining the balance between bone formation and resorption.
- Aberrant apoptosis may underlie craniofacial disorders like craniosynostosis and cleidocranial dysplasia.
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