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Analysis of Craniomaxillofacial Malformations in Mice Using Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomography
Bingxin Zan1, Siyuan Sun2, Yu Zhao1
1The 2nd Dental Center, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Department of Stomatology, Zhang Zhiyuan Academician Work Station, Hainan, Western Central Hospital.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|February 3, 2025
Summary
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) causes craniofacial malformations. Researchers developed an accurate microcomputed tomography (microCT) image segmentation method to quantify bone changes in mice, aiding developmental biology research.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Biomedicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is linked to craniofacial malformations.
- Retinoid signaling pathways are crucial for skeletal development.
- Previous methods for analyzing VAD effects on craniofacial bones were inaccurate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model VAD-induced craniofacial malformations in mice.
- To develop an accurate and efficient method for segmenting and quantifying microCT images of craniofacial bones.
- To investigate the impact of VAD on specific craniofacial bones.
Main Methods:
- Expressed a dominant-negative retinoid receptor mutation in mouse osteoblasts to inhibit RAR activity.
- Utilized microcomputed tomography (microCT) scanning of the mouse craniomaxillofacial region.
- Developed a novel segmentation approach for microCT images of individual craniofacial bones (mandible, frontal, parietal, nasal, premaxilla, maxilla, interparietal, occipital).
Main Results:
- Successfully modeled VAD-related craniofacial malformations, including hypomineralization and deformities.
- The developed microCT image segmentation method proved efficient and accurate for quantifying bone dimensions.
- Demonstrated the ability to analyze the effects of genetic mutations on individual craniofacial bones.
Conclusions:
- The new microCT segmentation technique provides a valuable tool for studying craniofacial bone growth and development.
- This method facilitates the analysis of VAD effects and genetic mutations on skeletal structures.
- The findings contribute to understanding craniofacial development and malformations in biomedical research.
