Collaborative research: A histological and CT study of midfacial growth trajectories in subadult primates

合作研究：亚成年灵长类动物中面部生长轨迹的组织学和 CT 研究

• 批准号: 1231350
• 负责人: Tim Smith
• 金额: $ 4.97万
• 依托单位: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1231350&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; research; histological; CT; study

Primates are distinguished from most other mammals by a trend toward midfacial reduction, most notably seen in the reduced 'snout' of monkeys, apes, and humans. This study uses a novel developmental approach to test whether midfacial reduction of the skull in primates is a byproduct of growth of neighboring structures (e.g., eyes and teeth). For example, does selection for a precocious visual nervous system fundamentally affect midfacial patterns of growth? Do proportionately large deciduous maxillary teeth and their successors have transient or lasting effects on development of paranasal spaces of the maxilla? To answer these questions, cadaveric samples from over seventy specimens (including 20 species of primates) will be studied. Specimens of different postnatal ages will be studied using an innovative combination of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and microscopic study of decalcified samples. The result is a novel approach for mapping regions of bone deposition and resorption in three dimensions. The project will create unique three-dimensional 'growth maps' of primate skulls in relation to functional units of the head (eyes, nasal airways, teeth). Three-dimensional skull form and growth maps will then be compared among primates that differ in the extent to which the eyes are convergent (forward-facing). Indirect influences on neural and dental development, such as gestation length and diet, will also be used as variables.The broader implications of the study include a web-based atlas and digital archive of histological and CT images from the specimens. The interactive online atlas will be developed as a resource for anatomists, who will benefit from animal models for aspects of human development, and primatologists, who will benefit from the resource on development of primates. In addition, animations which highlight the importance of growth mechanisms for evolutionary adaptation will be created and made available to advanced K-12 students and their teachers as online educational tools.

灵长类动物与大多数其他哺乳动物的区别在于面部中部缩小的趋势，最明显的是在猴子，猿和人类的“鼻子”缩小。这项研究使用了一种新的发育方法来测试灵长类动物头骨的面中部缩小是否是邻近结构生长的副产品（例如，眼睛和牙齿）。例如，选择早熟的视觉神经系统是否会从根本上影响面中部的生长模式？上颌骨乳牙和其继承者对上颌骨鼻旁间隙的发育有短暂或持久的影响吗？为了回答这些问题，将研究来自70多个标本（包括20种灵长类动物）的尸体样本。将采用高分辨率计算机断层扫描（CT）和脱钙样本显微镜研究的创新组合对不同出生后年龄的样本进行研究。 其结果是一种新的方法映射区域的骨沉积和吸收的三维。该项目将创建灵长类动物头骨与头部功能单位（眼睛、鼻气道、牙齿）相关的独特三维“生长地图”。三维头骨形状和生长图将在灵长类动物中进行比较，这些灵长类动物的眼睛会聚（向前）的程度不同。对神经和牙齿发育的间接影响，如妊娠时间和饮食，也将被用作变量。这项研究的更广泛意义包括基于网络的图谱和标本组织学和CT图像的数字存档。互动式在线地图集将作为解剖学家和灵长类学家的资源，前者将受益于人类发育方面的动物模型，后者将受益于灵长类动物发育方面的资源。此外，还将制作动画，突出生长机制对进化适应的重要性，并将其作为在线教育工具提供给高级K-12学生及其教师。