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PubMed2000

Comparative study on biocompatibility and absorption times of three absorbable monofilament suture materials (Polydioxanone, Poliglecaprone 25, Glycomer 631).

Monofilament synthetic absorbable suture materials offer excellent glide characteristics and cause minimal tissue trauma as a result of their smooth monofilament structure and gradual bio-absorption. An investigation was conducted on 72 rats to compare three types of monofilament absorbable suture material (Polydioxanone, Poliglecaprone 25, Glycomer 631), with respect to their clinical characteristics, tissue inflammatory reaction and suture absorption times. The results identified different qualities for each suture: Poliglecaprone 25 and Glycomer 631 suture materials were found to be less reactive than Polydioxanone in rat skin. However, because of their extremely low tissue reaction values, all three materials were deemed particularly suitable for use as intracuticular sutures. Absorption times in rat skin were less than 3 months for Poliglecaprone 25, between 3 and 6 months for Glycomer 631 and 6 months for Polydioxanone. The differences in suture characteristics which were detected in our study can help in the surgical selection of the most appropriate suture material.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Comparison of mechanical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride and polypropylene monofilament sutures used for flexor tendon repair.

We performed an experimental study to evaluate the mechanical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride sutures and to compare their use with that of standard polypropylene sutures for the circumferential, epitendinous suture of a flexor tendon repair. Polyvinylidene fluoride sutures had a smaller suture diameter, a greater knot pull strength and less delayed extension when under creep testing, than polypropylene sutures. Tendons repaired using polyvinylidene fluoride sutures had significantly greater gap and breaking strengths than those repaired using polypropylene sutures.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

End-to-end microvascular anastomosis in the rat carotid artery using continuous horizontal mattress sutures.

This paper reports a continuous horizontal mattress suture technique with advantages such as decreased time for anastomosis, minimized anastomotic leakage, eversion around the vessel edges, and other advantages which the continuous anastomosis technique has. This technique was compared with the classical interrupted and classical continuous suture techniques on a total of 59 Sprague-Dawley rat common carotid arteries: Group 1 (n = 19), interrupted suture technique; Group 2 (n = 20), standard continuous technique, and Group 3 (n = 20), continuous horizontal mattress technique. Early (30 min) and late (21 days) patency rates, anastomosis time, leakage on clamp release, oozing duration, additional sutures needed, and total number of sutures placed were statistically compared between groups. Specimens were taken at the 21st day randomly, and light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and angiographic studies were performed. Results revealed that the continuous mattress suture technique has the advantages of providing a water-tight anastomosis with less suture materials in a shorter time, and minimal intraluminal suture material which can incite thrombosis. On the other hand, a tendency to anastomotic stricture was found to be the sole disadvantage of this technique.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1984

Microanastomotic response to needle and suture size.

This study was performed to examine the microanastomotic response to needle and suture size, comparing the 10-0 (75 mu needle/22 mu suture), the 11-0 (50 mu needle/18 mu suture), and a new modified 11-0 which has a 30 mu needle and a 14 mu suture. Each artery received five full thickness sutures of either suture. The vessels were harvested at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and checked for patency, aneurysm formation, and gross strength. Histologic slides and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) were made at 7, 21, and 28 days postoperatively. The 11-0 with the 30 mu needle gave better patency rates, less incidence of aneurysm formation, and as good or better recovery in gross strength, when compared with the 10-0 75 mu needle. Histologically and by SEM, the 11-0 with the 30 mu needle was far superior to the other two larger sized sutures, showing less trauma and inflammation. The use of the modified 11-0 suture with the 30 mu needle is advantageous in anastomosis of vessels 1 mm or smaller.

Aneurysm↗

PubMed2001

A comparison of para-anastomotic compliance profiles after vascular anastomosis: nonpenetrating clips versus standard sutures.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic compliance is an important predictive factor for long-term patency of small diameter vascular reconstruction. In this experimental study we compare the compliance of continuous and interrupted sutured vascular anastomoses with those using nonpenetrating clips. METHODS: Both common carotid arteries in nine goats (average weight, 57 +/- 5.7 kg) were transected, and end-to-end anastomoses were constructed with nonpenetrating clips or polypropylene sutures. The latter were applied with both interrupted and continuous techniques. Intraluminal pressure was measured with a Millar Mikro-tip transducer, and vessel wall motion was determined with duplex ultrasound equipped with an echo-locked wall-tracking system. Diametrical compliance was determined. Environmental scanning electron microscopy was performed on explanted anastomoses. RESULTS: There was a reduction in anastomotic compliance and associated proximal and distal para-anastomotic hypercompliant zones with the use of all techniques. However, compliance loss was significantly less in those anastomoses with clips and interrupted sutures when compared with continuous suture (P <.001). Furthermore, the total compliance mismatch across anastomoses with continuous sutures was significantly greater than those with clips or interrupted sutures (P <.05). The mean time for constructing clipped anastomoses was 5.7 +/- 1.4 minutes, which was significantly less than either continuous (P <.0001) or interrupted sutures (P <.0001). Furthermore, environmental scanning electron microscopy demonstrated minimal intimal damage with good intimal apposition in the clip group. CONCLUSION: Anastomoses performed with nonpenetrating clips resulted in improved para-anastomotic compliance profiles and reduced intimal damage when compared with those with polypropylene sutures. These benefits may enhance long-term graft patency by reducing the risk of anastomotic intimal hyperplasia.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed2006

Material properties of human infant skull and suture at high rates.

Clinicians are often faced with the challenging task of distinguishing between accidental and inflicted pediatric head trauma. There is currently a disparity in the anecdotal case study literature as to what kinds of injuries can occur in children from low height falls. There is also a paucity of material property data for pediatric skull and suture at rates similar to those expected in low height falls. We tested human infant (<1 year old) cranial bone and suture from 23 calveria in three-point bending and tension, respectively, at rates ranging from 1.2-2.8 m/sec. Donor age was found to have the largest influence on the elastic modulus and ultimate stress of cranial bone, with an increase in age increasing both material properties. In adults, cranial bone and suture have similar properties and the adult calveria deforms very little prior to fracture. In contrast, pediatric cranial bone is 35 times stiffer than pediatric cranial suture. In addition, pediatric cranial suture deforms 30 times more before failure than pediatric cranial bone and 243 times more than adult cranial bone. The large strains in the pediatric bone and suture result in a skullcase that can undergo dramatic shape changes before fracture, potentially causing substantial deformation in the brain. The sizeable difference between pediatric bone and suture material properties also underscores the crucial role that sutures play in the unique response of the pediatric head to impact in low height falls. These data provide necessary information to enhance our understanding of mechanisms of head injury in young children.

Aging↗

PubMed1994

Functional influence on sutural growth. A morphometric study in the anterior facial skeleton of the growing rat.

The aim of this study was to quantify the sutural response in the various parts of the rat's upper frontal viscerocranium and study the possible effects caused by reduced masticatory muscle function. Twenty growing male albino rats were randomly divided into two equal groups: one group (Hard Diet group) received the ordinary diet in a hard pellets form, while the other (Soft Diet group) a soft diet. The experimental period started just before the rats' pubertal growth spurt (28 days old) and its duration was 28 days. After death, the heads of the animals were taken for preparation of undecalcified frontal sections, 100 microns thick. Contact microradiographs of six representative homologous sections, for every animal in both groups, were prepared. The mean width, length, height, and interdigitation ratio of the internasal, naso-premaxillary, and interpremaxillary sutures, as well as the orientation of the bony surfaces of the naso-premaxillary suture were quantified on the contact microradiographs using the IBAS automatic image analysis system. The width of the sutural space was found to be significantly greater in the Hard Diet group than in the Soft Diet group in all the sutures studied (P < 0.01). No differences in the interdigitation of the sutures were found between the two groups, except in the internasal suture in the middle part of the snout, where the Hard Diet group exhibited increased interdigitations. The bony surfaces of the naso-premaxillary suture were significantly more parallelly-orientated in the animals with reduced masticatory muscle function (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1998

Morphological aspects of the mid-palatal suture in the human foetus: a light and scanning electron microscopy study.

Morphological features of the mid-palatal suture were studied in human foetuses from 4 to 9 months of intra-uterine life. The foetuses were divided into three age groups, GI (16-23 weeks), GII (24-31 weeks) and GIII (32-39 weeks). The mid-palatal suture in GI foetuses is rectilineal in form with a wide space between the palatal processes of the maxilla. The suture has a sinuous nature in GII and GIII foetuses due to growth of the bone processes crossing the mid-line. A wide zone of cellular proliferation observed in GI narrows in GII and GIII foetuses. The imbricating nature of the suture in GII and GIII is caused by bone growth adjacent to the mid-palatal suture. Sharpey's fibres, emerging from the bone processes, run to the median region of the mid-palatal suture and are observed from GI foetuses onwards. The collagen fibres of the mid-palatal suture are orientated transversely under the oral epithelium and exhibit a regular meshwork with a predominance of sagittal fibres in the median region of the suture. These fibres are orientated transversely and obliquely at the junction with the nasal septum.

Collagen↗

PubMed2000

Stapled versus sutured closure of loop ileostomy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome after conventional sutured loop ileostomy closure with stapled ileostomy closure. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: A defunctioning loop ileostomy is now widely used in colorectal surgery. Subsequent closure may be associated with early complications, particularly bowel obstruction. The results of a preliminary nonrandomized study suggested that there was no significant difference in the rate of complications between sutured and stapled closure of loop ileostomy. METHODS: One hundred forty-one consecutive patients who underwent loop ileostomy between 1993 and 1998 were randomized before surgery to either sutured or stapled loop ileostomy closure. Seventy-one patients had stapled closure and 70 had sutured closure. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, original operation, duration after original operation, and level of operating surgeon. Postoperative bowel obstruction occurred in 10/70 (14%) patients after sutured closure compared with 2/71 (3%) patients after stapled closure. Subgroup analysis of ileostomy closure in patients having an ileal pouch showed no significant difference in bowel obstruction between stapled and sutured closure (2/30 vs. 7/29). The incidence of other complications, readmissions, and reoperations did not differ between the two groups. The stapled closure was only 4 minutes quicker than sutured closure. The mean total hospital stay tended to be shorter after the stapled closure than the sutured closure, but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel obstruction occurred less frequently after stapled closure, but the mean hospital stay and readmission and reoperation rate did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Apert's syndrome correlates with low fibroblast growth factor receptor activity in stenosed cranial sutures.

Recent genetic studies have shown that Apert's syndrome results from mutations of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 2 gene. We were interested in investigating the expression of FGF receptor 2 at the tissue level in children with Apert's syndrome. We studied FGF receptor activity in cranial sutures of children with Apert's syndrome and nonsyndromic, isolated craniosynostosis. Fourteen children between the ages of 6 months and 12 months were studied. Five of these children had Apert's syndrome with coronal suture stenosis. Nine children had an isolated, nonsyndromic coronal stenosis. Stenosed and nonstenosed cranial sutures were removed at the time of cranioplasty, fixed, decalcified, and paraffinized. Immunohistochemistry was performed with labeled, specific anti-FGR receptor 2 antibodies. We found lower levels of FGF receptor 2 staining in both stenosed and unstenosed sutures of children with Apert's syndrome compared with those from children with a nonsyndromic suture stenosis. Furthermore, fused sutures from children with Apert's syndrome demonstrated lower levels of FGF receptor 2 staining than unfused sutures from the same sample. The findings suggest that Apert's syndrome correlates with low FGF receptor 2 activity in cranial sutures. These results are consistent with and similar to our findings in Crouzon's syndrome, and support genetic studies showing localized mutational changes occurring at the FGF receptor 2 gene for both Apert's and Crouzon's syndromes. Furthermore, the findings suggest the possibility that variable expression of FGF receptor 2 occurs at the tissue level in patients with Apert's syndrome.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

PubMed2003

Normal palatal sutures in newborns and fetuses: a critical fact for successful palatal distraction.

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) has recently been applied to the palate. Successful posterior lengthening and medial advancement of the palates was continuously reported. Based on these studies, it is obvious that DO will play a major role in the management of problems related to palatal defects in the near future. Although the results are appealing, they may not be applicable for humans due to anatomic differences. All experimental studies used normal palatal sutures of young dogs for size expansion. Therefore, it is necessary to know normal palatal sutures in infants before one can clinically apply this new technique. With consent, palates of fetuses and neonates who died of various causes were examined. Eight fresh cadavers were available for the dissection, with two being skeletonized using the boiling process. There were three fetal deaths in utero (33-41 weeks of gestational age) and five postnatal deaths (aged between 5 hours and 6 months). All specimens were grossly normal in shape and size except for one with a unilateral complete cleft of lip and palate. A midline palatal suture was found in every noncleft specimen, while premaxillary and transverse palatomaxillary sutures were present in every specimen. Laterally, there was no true suture except for the most posterior portion, which was contiguous with the greater palatine foramen. The palatal sutures of third-trimester fetuses and neonates are not different from adult ones. There is no lateral suture that will allow distraction in the medial direction. It is only the posterior hard palate (palatine bones) that can potentially be moved medially and posteriorly by sutural expansion with DO.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Unicoronal suture immobilization in the fetal rabbit.

Pre-clinical evaluation of surgical procedures aimed to correct craniosynostosis is ideally performed in species of small animals characterized by perinatal brain development, early skeletal maturation, and genuine synostosis in all newborns. It would be nearly impossible to breed such a colony to homozygosity, so most researchers have resorted to artificial postnatal suture immobilization. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that artificial immobilization of a unicoronal suture in the fetal rabbit (25 days of gestation) would result in neurocranial growth alterations similar to those seen in the 9-day postnatally immobilized or congenital synostotic rabbit models. The advantages of prenatal immobilization are that rabbits can undergo the tested corrective procedure at postnatal day 9. This age corresponds to a human age of 6 months and allows the deformity and the effects of its correction to be more readily detected. The heads of 25-day-old fetuses of five time-dated pregnant New Zealand white rabbits were exposed by hysterotomy. The left unicoronal suture of 4 fetuses in each litter was immobilized with a polyglactin suture piercing the frontal and parietal bone plates. The remaining two fetuses were sham-operated. Nine days after spontaneous delivery, all rabbits were marked with four titanium screws close to the sagittal and coronal sutures. Growth was recorded with dorsoventral cephalograms at 9 and 90 days. The group with the immobilized suture showed a small increase in growth across the sagittal sutures. However, the decreases in growth at the unicoronal suture in both the immobilized (5.41-mm difference with sham-treated group) and nonimmobilized (1.17-mm difference with sham-treated group) were significant. Fetal immobilization results in growth alterations similar to those observed after postnatal immobilization.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the in vivo behavior of polyvinylidene fluoride and polypropylene sutures used in vascular surgery.

To find a nonabsorbable suture material that is equivalent to polypropylene in ease of handling and tensile properties, and that has low thrombogenicity and tissue reactivity but improved biostability, some researchers and clinicians see merit in considering the suitability of monofilaments made from polyvinylidene fluoride. The current animal study investigated the relative biocompatibility and biostability of these two suture materials by using them to anastomose a polyester arterial prosthesis in a canine thoracoabdominal bypass model for 10 periods of implantation ranging from 4 hr to 2 years. Biocompatibility was assessed with light and scanning electron microscope examinations of the explanted sutures, and biostability of the cleaned sutures was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope analysis. The polyvinylidene fluoride and polypropylene sutures were found to have similar handling and healing characteristics. During the first months in vivo, both types of suture experienced a temporary increase in carbonyl group absorption that coincided with the duration of the inflammatory response. After 1 and 2 years in vivo, the explanted polypropylene sutures showed visual evidence of surface stress cracking. This was not found with the explanted polyvinylidene fluoride sutures. These results suggest that polyvinylidene fluoride may be more biostable than polypropylene in the long term.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Effects of penetrating keratoplasty suture removal on corneal topography and refraction.

PURPOSE: To study the refractive and topographic modifications induced by penetrating keratoplasty suture removal. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 50 corneas from 50 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty. All of the eyes were examined before and after all sutures were removed at 10.8+/-4.7 months and 20.3+/-7.9 months after keratoplasty. Subjective refraction, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (LogMAR units), and corneal topography (EyeSys 2000R device) were recorded. RESULTS: Suture removal decreased the subjective cylinder by an average of 0.91+/-2.32 D (p = 0.004) and modified the corneal topographic pattern (p = 0.03) and shape (p < 0.001) distribution. The change in subjective cylinder correlated with the variation of the steepest meridian power (r(s) = 0.46; p < 0.001). It correlated with the change in topographic pattern (r(s) = 0.59; p < 0.001). The subjective spherical equivalent increased (hyperopization) by an average of 0.61+/-2.24 D (p = 0.01). After suture removal, the prolate shape was less frequent, and the oblate shape was more frequent than before suture removal. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity increased by an average of 0.8+/-2.0 lines (p = 0.004). The change in subjective cylinder correlated with the change in visual acuity (r(s) = 0.36; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Suture removal modifies the corneal topographic pattern and shape. It decreases the subjective cylinder and induces an hyperopization. Visual-acuity improvement after suture removal mainly is explained by the decrease in astigmatism. Suture removal seems particularly helpful in corneas with a bow-tie pattern.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The effect of suture technique on adhesion formation after flexor tendon repair for partial lacerations in a canine model.

BACKGROUND: Adhesion formation is a serious problem after flexor tendon repair. Many repair techniques have been developed to increase the suture strength after tendon repair surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess adhesion formation with different suture techniques in an in vivo canine model. METHODS: Sixty flexor digitorum profundus tendons were partially lacerated (80%) and repaired with either a modified Kessler (MK) or Becker (MGH) suture technique and supplemented with a simple running suture. The dogs were sacrificed at 1 week, 3 weeks, or 6 weeks after surgery and the repaired tendons were evaluated for adhesion breaking strength. RESULTS: At 1 week there was no significant difference between the two repair groups (p > 0.05). At 3 and 6 weeks, the adhesion breaking strength in the MK suture group was significantly less than that of the MGH suture group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High friction suture techniques may cause more adhesion formation than the lower friction suture techniques under passive postoperative therapy.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

Stapled versus sutured gastrointestinal anastomoses in the trauma patient: a multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Construction of gastrointestinal anastomoses utilizing stapling devices has become a familiar procedure. In elective surgery, studies have shown no significant differences in complications between stapled and sutured anastomoses. Controversy has recently arisen regarding the accurate incidence of complications associated with anastomoses in the trauma patient. The objective of this multi-institutional study was to determine whether the incidence of postoperative complications differs between stapled and sutured anastomoses following the emergent repair of traumatic bowel injuries. METHODS: Using a retrospective cohort design, all trauma registry records from five Level I trauma centers over a period of 4 years were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 199 patients with 289 anastomoses were identified. A surgical stapling device was used to create 175 separate anastomoses, while a hand-sutured method was employed in 114 anastomoses. A complication was defined as an anastomotic leak verified at reoperation, an intra-abdominal abscess, or an enterocutaneous fistula. The mean abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score and Injury Severity Score were similar in the two cohort groups. Stapling and suturing techniques were evenly distributed in both small and large bowel repairs. Seven of the total 175 stapled anastomoses and none of the 114 hand-sewn anastomoses resulted in a clinically significant leak requiring reoperation (RR = undefined, 95% CI 1.08-infinity, p = 0.04). Each anastomotic leak occurred in a separate individual. Nineteen stapled anastomoses and four sutured anastomoses were associated with an intra-abdominal abscess (RR = 2.7, 95% CI 0.96-7.57, p = 0.04). Enterocutaneous fistula formation was not statistically associated with either type of anastomoses (stapled cohort = 3 of 175 and sutured cohort = 2 of 114). Overall, 22 (13%) stapled anastomoses and 6 (5%) sutured anastomoses were associated with an intra-abdominal complication (RR = 2.08, 95% CI 0.89-4.86, p = 0.076). CONCLUSION: Anastomotic leaks and intra-abdominal abscesses appear to be more likely with stapled bowel repairs compared with sutured anastomoses in the injured patient. Caution should be exercised in deciding to staple a bowel anastomosis in the trauma patient.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Regional differences of dura osteoinduction: squamous dura induces osteogenesis, sutural dura induces chondrogenesis and osteogenesis.

Dura plays an important role in calvarial morphogenesis. However, precisely what that role is remains unclear. We present here in vivo evidence that dura without other central nervous system components induces both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. The mechanism is, at least in part, by proximate tissue interaction. The objectives of this experiment were to answer the following: (1) Can dura actually induce osteogenesis without the influence of the underlying brain? (2) What are the requirements of this dura-induced heterotopic osteogenesis? (3) What are the differences between dura underlying sutures and dura underlying the squamous portions of the cranial bones? Dura underlying the metopic, sagittal, and lambdoidal sutures and dura underlying the flat portions of frontal and parietal bones were obtained from neonatal Lewis rats and transplanted into the posterior thoraces of adult Lewis recipients. In group I, dura underlying the metopic, sagittal, and lambdoidal sutures (n = 20) and dura underlying the flat portions of frontal and parietal bones (n = 20) were transplanted individually into separate epitheliomesenchymal pockets. Group II animals had dura underlying the metopic, sagittal, and lambdoidal sutures (n = 10) and dura underlying the flat portions of frontal and parietal bones (n = 10) transplanted individually into surgically created mesenchymal pockets by placing the dura grafts between panniculus carnosus and latissimus dorsi muscles. The animals were sacrificed at 2-week intervals. Light microscopy, special histochemical analysis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy were performed. Bone formation was seen in 15 of the 18 animals (83 percent) in group I. No bone or cartilage formation was seen in group II. Chondrogenesis was seen in 4 animals receiving dura underlying the metopic, sagittal, and lambdoidal sutures in group I. Cellular hyperproliferation was seen at 2 weeks when dura was transplanted close to the hair follicles. These cells had a high nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio and were positive for transforming growth factor beta. This hyperproliferation was followed by production and accumulation of Alcian blue-positive extracellular matrix that resisted digestion by hyaluronidase. Cellularly active cartilage was seen at 6 weeks. There was no chondrogenesis in animals receiving dura underlying the flat portions of frontal and parietal bones in group I. Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of proteoglycan-like ground substance and type II collagen in the inner layer of sutural dura and the predominance of dense type I collagen in the squamous dura and the external layer of the sutural dura. The important findings of this experiment are that (1) heterotopically transplanted neonatal dura can induce osteogenesis, (2) this heterotopic osteoinduction by dura requires epitheliomesenchymal interaction, and (3) separating dura into sutural dura and squamous dura, chondrogenesis occasionally occurred in addition to osteogenesis with the former, while only membranous ossification occurred with the latter, indicating intrinsic differences within the dura mater. This dural heterogeneity is supported by direct ultrastructural data.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Immunolocalization of basic fibroblast growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and receptor-2 in rat cranial sutures.

Craniosynostosis is a common disorder with an unknown etiology. Recent genetic mapping studies have demonstrated a strong linkage between several familial craniosynostotic syndromes and mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGF-R1) and 2 (FGF-R2). The purpose of this experiment was to investigate by immunohistochemistry the protein production of these receptors as well as of their most prevalent ligand, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), before, during, and after sutural fusion in rat cranial sutures. The posterior frontal (normally fuses between postnatal days 12 and 22) and sagittal (remains patent) sutures of embryonic day 20 and neonatal days 6, 12, 17, 22, and 62 (n = 3 per group) were harvested, fixed, and decalcified. Five-micrometer sections were stained with polyclonal antibodies against bFGF, FGF-R1, and FGF-R2, and patterns of immunohistochemical staining were assessed by independent reviewers. Our results indicate that increased bFGF production correlates temporally with suture fusion, with increased staining of the dura underneath the fusing suture prior to fusion followed by increased staining within osteoblasts and sutural cells during fusion. FGF-R1 and, to a lesser extent FGF-R2 immunostaining revealed a different pattern of localization with increased immunostaining within the patent sagittal suture at these time points. These results implicate bFGF in the regulation of sutural fusion and may imply autoregulatory mechanisms in fibroblast growth factor receptor expression.

Animals↗