title: Morphological evaluation of cranial and maxillary shape differences of the brachymorphic mouse with spontaneous malocclusion using three-dimensional micro-computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether significant cranial and maxillary deformity exists in BALB/c-bm/bm (brachymorphism) mouse with spontaneous malocclusion using three-dimensional (3D) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty female mice were divided into the following three groups: control group (BALB/c mice, n = 10), Norm group (BALB/c-bm/bm mice with normal occlusion, n = 10), and Mal group (BALB/c-bm/bm mice with malocclusion, n = 10). Nine points in the skull were selected, and transverse and antero-posterior distances were measured using three-dimensional images of micro-computed tomography (CT). Moreover, 3D images were superimposed at the median plane to visualize the skull shape asymmetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transverse distances at the posterior cranial and maxillary region and the antero-posterior distances in the Norm and Mal groups were significantly shorter than those in the control group. The nasal septum of the Mal group was significantly shorter than that of the Norm group. Morphological measurements and superimposed 3D images showed that lateral deviation occurred at the anterior cranial and maxillary region in the Mal group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D micro-CT images revealed that the antero-posterior length and posterior transverse width at the cranium and maxilla in BALB/c-bm/bm mice were significantly smaller than those in BALB/c mice. It was quantitatively and morphologically clear that BALB/c-bm/bm mice show a spontaneous transverse crossbite owing to lateral deviation of the maxilla and nasal bone.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, Division of Oral Functional Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Saito
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Kajii
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Sugawara-Kato
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Tsukamoto
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Arai
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Hirabayashi
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Fujimori
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Iida
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000473:pathology; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005539:Foramen Magnum / Q000473:pathology; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000473:pathology; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000473:pathology; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*; D015050:Zygoma / Q000473:pathology