Abstract
Apert syndrome is a congenital disorder caused mainly by two neighboring mutations on fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2). Premature closure of the coronal suture is commonly considered the identifying and primary defect triggering or preceding the additional cranial malformations of Apert phenotype. Here we use two transgenic mouse models of Apert syndrome, Fgfr2+/S252W and Fgfr2+/P253R, to explore variation in cranial phenotypes in newborn (P0) mice. Results show that the facial skeleton is the most affected region of the cranium. Coronal suture patency shows marked variation that is not strongly correlated with skull dysmorphology. The craniofacial effects of the FGFR2 mutations are similar, but Fgfr2+/S252W mutant mice display significantly more severe dysmorphology localized to the posterior palate. Our results demonstrate that coronal suture closure is neither the primary nor the sole locus of skull dysmorphology in these mouse models for Apert syndrome, but that the face is also primarily affected.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 3058-3071 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Developmental Dynamics |
Volume | 239 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2010 |
Keywords
- Apert syndrome
- Craniofacial shape
- Craniosynostosis
- FGFR2
- Mouse model
- Suture
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology