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Dryad

Palatal segment contributions to midfacial anterior-posterior growth

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Jan 22, 2025 version files 20.49 GB

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Abstract

Following facial prominence fusion, anterior-posterior (A-P) elongation of the palate is a critical aspect of palatogenesis and integrated midfacial elongation. Reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions drive secondary palate elongation and periodic signaling center formation within the rugae growth zone (RGZ). However, the relationship between RGZ dynamics and the morphogenetic behavior of underlying palatal bone mesenchymal precursors has remained enigmatic. As part of a broader multifaceted study of these interactions within C57BL/6J mice, we completed a morphometrics analysis of 1) ontogenetic shape change of the palate and midface between embryonic day (E) 11.0 and E15.0 and 2) embryonic and postnatal longitudinal growth and proportional contributions of primary palate, anterior secondary palate, and posterior secondary palate to overall hard palate length.

Our overall shape analysis identifed the major ontogenetic trends in palatal and midfacial shape change between E11.0 and E15.0, a critical early period of facial development. Our ontogenetic analysis of palatal segment lengths indicated that the three major palatal segments significantly elongated during the same embryonic period, between E15 and postnatal day (P) 1, and between P1 and adulthood. The anterior secondary palate contributed proportionally more than the primary palate or posterior secondary palate to overall embryonic and perinatal hard palate elongation. However, the primary palate contributed proportionally more to longitudinal hard palate growth between P1 and adult samples. These results indicate the major importance of anterior secondary palate growth during the earliest period of midfacial outgrowth. Changes to the rate or timing of anterior secondary palate elongation, potentially by modifying associated RGZ gene expression dynamics, may contribute to intraspecies or interspecies differences in upper jaw morphology. However, postnatal growth processes, including the significant postnatal growth of the primary palate derived premaxillary bone, also contribute to variation in adult upper jaw morphology.