Analysis of differential morphology of the anterior fontanelle in an embryonic avian model of induced thyrotoxicosis

Craniosynostosis (CS) occurs when the cranial sutures of skull fuse prematurely, and this results in intracranial pressure during development deformities. Maternal hyperthyroidism embryonic has been linked to CS. Our lab is currently establishing a model thyroxine-induced CS study mechanism involved thyroxine-enhanced ossification. Two groups fertilized chicken eggs were injected with saline or 25 ng T4 into air cell on days 11 15. Skulls from each group collected 17 through 19 (n = 17-21 per day). They fixed formalin processed using Alizarin Red whole-mount staining image quantify any morphological differences ossifying membrane anterior fontanelle between treatment control groups. We hypothesize that thyroxine exposure will alter morphology. Geometric morphometric analysis MorphoJ was performed identify shape variation fibrous space region fontanelle. Significance determined by Procrustes ANOVA. Results demonstrated significant gap developing 17, 18 (p<0.05) (p<0.001). In conclusion, we our induced thyrotoxicosis successfully altered morphology visualized These findings support successful promoting fusing bones avian model.
 Acknowledgment NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium (Grant #80NSSC20M0055) Genomics Core Facility WV-INBRE (NIH grant P20GM103434).