Objective: To describe the expression patterns of the various transforming growth factor-beta (Tgf-beta) isoforms, known to be involved in suture development, in the perisutural tissues of rabbits with naturally occurring craniosynostosis and relate such differential expression to the pathogenesis of premature suture fusion.
Method: Twenty-one coronal sutures were harvested from six wild-type control New Zealand White rabbits and five rabbits with familial coronal suture synostosis at 25 days of age for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Tgf-beta isoform immunoreactivity was assessed using indirect immunoperoxidase procedures with specific antibodies.