Testosterone suppression impacts craniofacial growth structures during puberty : An animal study.

Abstract

Hormones play acrucial role in growth development; however, the impact of testosterone suppression (TS) on craniofacial growth during puberty remains inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TS during puberty on cephalometric measurements and histological characteristics of facial growth centers. Thirty-six heterogenic Wistar male rats were randomly allocated into experimental orchiectomy (ORX) and control (sham) groups. At an age of 23days (prepubertal stage), orchiectomy and placebo surgery were performed. Cephalometric measurements were performed via lateral cephalograms during and after puberty. The animals were euthanized at an age of 45days (pubertal stage) and 73days (postpubertal stage). Histological slices of the growth centers (condyle, premaxilla, and median palatine suture) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and sirius red. Student'st or Mann-WhitneyUtests were used to compare linear and angular cephalometric measurements across groups (α error = 5%). Linear and angular measurements were statistically different in ORX animals (cranial bones, maxilla, and mandible) at 45days and 73days. Condylar histology showed adecrease in prechondroblast differentiation and adelay of mineralization in ORX animals. Vascularization of the medium palatine suture was lower in the ORX group at 45days. TypeI andIII collagen fiber synthesis was lower in the ORX groups. In the premaxillary suture, collagen fibers were better organized in the sham groups. Our results suggest that testosterone suppression affects craniofacial growth during puberty.