PUBLICATION

The Morphogenesis of Cranial Sutures in Zebrafish

Authors
Topczewska, J.M., Shoela, R.A., Tomaszewski, J.P., Mirmira, R.B., Gosain, A.K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-161110-2
Date
2016
Source
PLoS One   11: e0165775 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Topczewska, Jolanta
Keywords
Zebrafish, Frontal bones, Collagens, Osteoblasts, Cranial sutures, Cranium, Skull, Alizarin staining
MeSH Terms
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Osteogenesis/genetics*
  • Osteocalcin/genetics
  • Osteocalcin/metabolism
  • Parietal Bone/cytology*
  • Parietal Bone/growth & development
  • Parietal Bone/metabolism
  • Occipital Bone/cytology*
  • Occipital Bone/growth & development
  • Occipital Bone/metabolism
  • Twist Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Twist Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Collagen/genetics
  • Collagen/metabolism
  • Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits/genetics
  • Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits/metabolism
  • Osteopontin/genetics
  • Osteopontin/metabolism
  • Osteoblasts/cytology
  • Osteoblasts/metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms/genetics
  • Protein Isoforms/metabolism
  • Frontal Bone/cytology*
  • Frontal Bone/growth & development
  • Frontal Bone/metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Cranial Sutures/cytology*
  • Cranial Sutures/growth & development
  • Cranial Sutures/metabolism
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
PubMed
27829009 Full text @ PLoS One
Abstract
Using morphological, histological, and TEM analyses of the cranium, we provide a detailed description of bone and suture growth in zebrafish. Based on expression patterns and localization, we identified osteoblasts at different degrees of maturation. Our data confirm that, unlike in humans, zebrafish cranial sutures maintain lifelong patency to sustain skull growth. The cranial vault develops in a coordinated manner resulting in a structure that protects the brain. The zebrafish cranial roof parallels that of higher vertebrates and contains five major bones: one pair of frontal bones, one pair of parietal bones, and the supraoccipital bone. Parietal and frontal bones are formed by intramembranous ossification within a layer of mesenchyme positioned between the dermal mesenchyme and meninges surrounding the brain. The supraoccipital bone has an endochondral origin. Cranial bones are separated by connective tissue with a distinctive architecture of osteogenic cells and collagen fibrils. Here we show RNA in situ hybridization for col1a1a, col2a1a, col10a1, bglap/osteocalcin, fgfr1a, fgfr1b, fgfr2, fgfr3, foxq1, twist2, twist3, runx2a, runx2b, sp7/osterix, and spp1/ osteopontin, indicating that the expression of genes involved in suture development in mammals is preserved in zebrafish. We also present methods for examining the cranium and its sutures, which permit the study of the mechanisms involved in suture patency as well as their pathological obliteration. The model we develop has implications for the study of human disorders, including craniosynostosis, which affects 1 in 2,500 live births.
Genes / Markers
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping