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Published on: May 19, 2015
Age-related changes in lateral ventricle morphology in craniosynostotic rabbits using magnetic resonance imaging
Wendy Fellows-Mayle1, T Kevin Hitchens, Elena Simplaceanu
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. fellowsmaylew@msx.upmc.edu
Insights
Early craniosynostosis significantly enlarges brain lateral ventricles in rabbits. This condition may impact cerebrospinal fluid and venous circulation, affecting neurological development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Craniosynostosis, affecting 300-500 per million births, causes craniofacial and intracranial anomalies.
- Neurologic issues in craniosynostosis include altered brain morphology, like cerebral ventricle dilation.
- Previous studies are limited by small, heterogeneous samples and lack of age-matched controls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in lateral ventricle volume.
- To compare normal rabbits with those having naturally-occurring coronal suture synostosis.
- To utilize serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for precise measurements.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen rabbits were studied: 6 wild-type controls, 6 with early-onset synostosis, and 6 with delayed-onset synostosis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 10, 25, and 42 days of age.
- Coronal suture synostosis onset was determined by gestational and post-gestational ages.
Main Results:
- Early-onset synostosis rabbits showed significantly larger lateral ventricles (77% at 10 days, p<0.001) compared to controls.
- Ventricle dilation progressively worsened in early-onset synostosis rabbits by day 42.
- Delayed-onset synostosis did not show the same degree of ventricular enlargement.
Conclusions:
- Uncorrected coronal suture synostosis can lead to early lateral ventricle volume hypertrophy.
- This may result from impaired cerebrospinal fluid and/or venous drainage and circulation.
- Findings highlight potential early neurological impacts of craniosynostosis.
Background And Aims:
Craniosynostosis occurs in 300-500 per 1,000,000 live births and results in secondary craniofacial, ocular, and intracranial anomalies. Neurologic problems associated with craniosynostosis include changes in intracranial morphology such as dilation of the cerebral ventricles, however, clinical studies are confounded by small sample sizes, heterogenous samples, and lack of age-matched controls. The present study was designed to assess age-related changes in the lateral ventricle volume of the brain in normal rabbits and rabbits with naturally-occurring coronal suture synostosis using serial magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods:
Eighteen rabbits (6 wild-type controls, 6 with early-onset [ approximately 21 days gestation], and 6 with delayed-onset [approximately 25 days post-gestation] coronal suture synostosis) had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 10, 25, and 42 days of age.
Results:
The results demonstrate that rabbits with early-onset synostosis had significantly (p<0.001) dilated and larger lateral ventricles (by 77% at 10 days of age) than wild-type and delayed-onset synostosis rabbits, which progressively worsened by day 42.
Conclusion:
This finding suggests that uncorrected coronal suture synostosis may have early effects on lateral ventricle volume hypertrophy, possibly through obstructed cerebrospinal fluid and/or venous drainage and circulation.
