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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
A Method to Make a Craniotomy on the Ventral Skull of Neonate Rodents
Published on: May 22, 2014
Craniectomy and noggin application in an infant model
Ingo N G Springer1, Patrick H Warnke, Hendrik Terheyden
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany. springer@mkg.uni-kiel.de
Introduction:
Noggin is an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2, -4 and -7. Little data are available regarding its clinical utility. Two hypotheses were put forward: firstly, that spontaneous regeneration of calvarial defects with noggin protein would result in diminished bone volume when compared with calvarial defects not so treated. Secondly, that centrifugal cranial expansion would remain undisturbed whether noggin was applied or not.
Material And Methods:
A unilateral defect of the frontal and parietal bones (2x4cm) was generated by excising the right coronal suture in 2-month-old minipigs (n=10) and in group 1 (n=5) no further intervention was undertaken. In the second group (n=5), a collagen type I tissue fleece and noggin protein (1.05mg/ml) were applied. After 4 months the coronal suture regions of frontal sides were examined in each animal by computed tomography and non-decalcified histology.
Results:
Bony gaps of equivalent size remained in animals of both groups. The differences in bone volumes of the experimental sides of group 1 were not statistically significantly different (p=0.117) when compared with those of group 2. A significant difference in the bone volumes of the experimental versus control (unoperated) sides was found in both group 1 (p=0.043) and group 2 (p=0.043). Internal skull diameters increased by 16.4% in both groups but the physiological centrifugal cranial expansion remained undisturbed. Bone densities of the experimental and control sides of groups 1 and 2 were not statistically significantly different (both p>0.05).
Conclusions:
The first hypothesis was contradicted: the quantity and quality of spontaneous bone regenerates was not altered by application of noggin protein. The second hypothesis was confirmed: no disruption of subsequent cranial development was seen. It may be that a single application of noggin protein in this study was insufficient. However, it may well be suggested that the continuous supplementation of noggin, for example by adenoviral noggin gene transfer may significantly reduce the quantity of spontaneous bone regeneration in a similar experiment.
Insights
Noggin protein did not affect bone regeneration in calvarial defects, nor did it disrupt cranial expansion in minipigs. Further research into continuous noggin supplementation may be needed for bone regeneration effects.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Noggin antagonizes bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), but its clinical utility in bone regeneration is not well-established.
- This study investigated noggin's effect on spontaneous calvarial defect regeneration and cranial expansion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of noggin protein on bone volume in surgically created calvarial defects.
- To assess whether noggin application affects physiological centrifugal cranial expansion.
Main Methods:
- Minipigs with unilateral calvarial defects were treated with either no intervention (Group 1) or noggin protein on a collagen fleece (Group 2).
- Defect size, bone volume, and cranial expansion were assessed after 4 months using computed tomography and histology.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in bone volume was observed between the noggin-treated and untreated groups.
- Both groups showed significant bone regeneration compared to unoperated sides, indicating spontaneous healing.
- Centrifugal cranial expansion occurred similarly in both groups, unaffected by noggin application.
Conclusions:
- Noggin protein, in a single application, did not alter the quantity or quality of spontaneous bone regeneration in calvarial defects.
- Noggin did not disrupt normal cranial development or expansion.
- Continuous noggin supplementation, potentially via gene transfer, might be necessary to influence bone regeneration outcomes.
