Age-related changes in lateral ventricle morphology in craniosynostotic rabbits using magnetic resonance imaging

Background and aims: Craniosynostosis occurs in 300-500 per 1,000,000 live births and results in secondary craniofacial, ocular, and intracranial anomalies. Neurologic problems associated with craniosynostosis include changes in intracranial morphology such as dilation of the cerebral ventricles, however, clinical studies are confounded by small sample sizes, heterogenous samples, and lack of age-matched controls. The present study was designed to assess age-related changes in the lateral ventricle volume of the brain in normal rabbits and rabbits with naturally-occurring coronal suture synostosis using serial magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Eighteen rabbits (6 wild-type controls, 6 with early-onset [similar to 21 days gestation], and 6 with delayed-onset [similar to 25 days post-gestation] coronal suture synostosis) had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 10, 25, and 42 days of age. Results: The results demonstrate that rabbits with early-onset synostosis had significantly (p < 0.001) dilated and larger lateral ventricles (by 77% at 10 days of age) than wild-type and delayed-onset synostosis rabbits, which progressively worsened by day 42. Conclusion: This finding suggests that uncorrected coronal suture synostosis may have early effects on lateral ventricle volume hypertrophy, possibly through obstructed cerebrospinal fluid and/or venous drainage and circulation.