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Effects of post-natal serotonin levels on craniofacial complex
1Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5120, USA. kbyrd@iupui.edu
Insights
Altering serotonin levels near trigeminal motoneurons significantly impacts post-natal craniofacial development in rats. This study reveals serotonin
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Craniofacial Biology
Background:
- Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is known to influence prenatal craniofacial development.
- The impact of serotonin on post-natal craniofacial growth remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of elevated serotonin levels adjacent to trigeminal motoneurons on post-natal craniofacial structures in young rats.
- To determine if localized serotonin modulation can alter craniofacial development after birth.
Main Methods:
- Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: 10% serotonin microspheres, 15% serotonin microspheres, blank microspheres, and sham surgeries.
- Stereotactic neurosurgery was performed at post-natal day 35.
- Animals were analyzed at 14 and 21 days post-surgery, measuring muscle weight, cranial dimensions, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dimensions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed between experimental groups and sides for muscle weight, cranial dimensions, and TMJ dimensions.
- Increased serotonin levels adjacent to trigeminal motoneurons led to notable alterations in craniofacial structures.
- Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these findings (P < 0.05, 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Altered in vivo serotonin levels near trigeminal motoneurons can significantly modify post-natal craniofacial structures.
- This research highlights a novel role for serotonin in regulating craniofacial development during the post-natal period.
- Findings suggest serotonin as a potential factor influencing craniofacial plasticity and growth postnatally.
Abstract:
Although the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) in pre-natal craniofacial growth and development has been studied, no research has been done on the effects of serotonin on post-natal craniofacial growth and development. The following experimental question was tested: What effect does increasing in vivo serotonin levels adjacent to trigeminal motoneurons have on post-natal craniofacial structures in young, actively growing rats? Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 experimental groups (10% serotonin microspheres, 15% serotonin microspheres, blank microspheres, sham surgeries) and underwent stereotactic neurosurgery at post-natal day 35; 5 rats of each group were killed at 14 and 21 post-surgical days for data collection. Statistical analyses by mixed-model, 4 x 2 repeated-measures ANOVA, and post hoc Fisher LSD tests revealed significant (P < or = 0.05, 0.01) differences between groups and sides for muscle weight, cranial dimension, and TMJ dimension data. Data described here indicate that significant alterations of post-natal craniofacial structures can be caused by altered in vivo levels of serotonin adjacent to trigeminal motoneurons.