Histological and histochemical study of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis of the cranial base on BALB/c- bm/ bm mouse

Abstract

Murine brachymorphism (bm) has cartilage with undersulfated glycosaminoglycans. The reason for inferior growth of craniofacial structure in BALB/c bm homozygous mouse has not been clarified. The spheno-occipital synchondrosis, which is the growth site of the cranium, was histologically and histochemically investigated in this study. BALB/c mice and BALB/c- bm/ bm mice were used. Sagittal sections of the cranial bases were stained by the method of hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue critical electrolyte concentration, or sensitized high iron diamine method after treatment with/without testicular hyaluronidase. The results showed that chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate were undersulfated in the cartilage of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis in BALB/c- bm/ bm mice. Sections stained using hematoxylin and eosin showed that columns of chondrocytes were irregular in arrangement, and normal endochondral ossification was not seen in the cartilage of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis in BALB/c- bm/ bm mice.