ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the response and changes of cranial suture to the distraction forces in growing goats.Methods:A custom-made distractor was used for expanding coronal suture of 11 growing goats at the rate of 0.4 mm/day for 8 days.The animals were killed 0,2 and 4 weeks respectively after completion of suture distraction application. X-ray examination was taken and the distracted suture samples were harvested and processed for scanning electron microscopic observation and immunohistochemistry examination of BMP and TGF-? expression. The coronal sutures taken from other undistracted animals were used as the controls. Results:The coronal sutures were separated successfully in distracted goats. 0 and 2 weeks after application of suture distraction, the collagen fiber bundles were strengthened and aligned in the direction of the distraction. Strong expression of BMP and TGF-? were detected in the fibroblast-like cells and the active osteoblasts. 4 weeks after suture distraction, signs of intramembranous ossification were found in the edge areas of the distracted suture, and the positive staining of BMP and TGF-? was still noted in the osteoblasts around the newly formed bone trabeculae. Conclusion:BMP and TGF-? may play important roles in the process of bone formation and remodeling during suture distraction osteogenesis.