Objectives: The aim of this study was investigate the cranium dimensions of adult female rats, who suffered estrogen deficiency during the prepubertal stage, to assess the impact of estrogen deficiency on craniofacial morphology.
Material and methods: Twenty-two female Wistar rats were divided into ovariectomy (OVX) (n = 11) and sham-operated control (n = 11) groups. Bilateral ovariectomy were performed in both groups at 21 days old (prepubertal stage), and rats were euthanized at an age of 63 days (post-pubertal stage). Micro-CT scans were performed with rat skulls, and the cranium morphometric landmark measurements were taken in the dorsal, lateral, and ventral view positions. Differences in measurements between the OVX and sham control groups were assessed using t test with an established alpha error of 5%.
Results: The measures of the rats' skull showed that the inter-zygomatic arch width and anterior cranial base length were significantly larger in OVX group (p = 0.020 and p = 0.050, respectively), whereas the length of parietal bone was significantly higher in the sham group (p = 0.026). For the remaining measurements no significant differences between groups were detected (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that ovariectomized rats had alterations in cranial bone dimensions, demonstrating that estrogens during puberty are important for skull morphology.
Clinical relevance: To understand the role of estrogen on the postnatal cranium development will impact the clinical diagnose and therapy during childhood and adolescence.
Keywords: Skull morphology. Estrogen. Rats.