Biomechanical strain patterns in Meckel's cartilage underlie mandibular variation in FGFR2 mouse models.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
- 2Department of Biosciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil.
- 3Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
- 4Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
Sequence variations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) are associated with craniosynostosis syndromes, disrupting craniofacial development, yet early mandibular alterations remain poorly characterized. This study examined Meckel's cartilage (MC) and mandibular morphology in mouse models of Apert (Fgfr2+/P253R) and Crouzon (Fgfr2cC342Y/+) syndromes using Euclidean distance matrix analysis and finite element modeling at embryonic days 14.5 and 16.5. Apert mice exhibited significant MC shortening and elevated, widespread strain in the growth center area correlating with mandibular shortening and asymmetry. In contrast, Crouzon mice showed minor MC changes and localized strain peaks with larger mandibles. These biomechanical perturbations in Meckel's cartilage are associated with distinct mandibular phenotypes, consistent with a bidirectional relationship in which altered strain environments may both influence and reflect mandibular dysmorphogenesis during early development. The findings enhance our understanding of the biomechanical basis of mandibular anomalies associated with FGFR2 mutations, informing future investigations into craniofacial morphogenesis.
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BibTeX
@article{foster2026biomechanical,
title = {{Biomechanical strain patterns in Meckel's cartilage underlie mandibular variation in FGFR2 mouse models.}},
author = {Fred R Foster and Alexandre Freire and Ana Cláudia Rossi and Jordan Wilson and Joan T Richtsmeier and Kazuhiko Kawasaki and Felippe B Prado and Susan M Motch Perrine},
journal = {Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ar.70371},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836417},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biomechanical strain patterns in Meckel's cartilage underlie mandibular variation in FGFR2 mouse models.
AU - Fred R Foster
AU - Alexandre Freire
AU - Ana Cláudia Rossi
AU - Jordan Wilson
AU - Joan T Richtsmeier
AU - Kazuhiko Kawasaki
AU - Felippe B Prado
AU - Susan M Motch Perrine
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
DO - 10.1002/ar.70371
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836417
AB - Sequence variations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) are associated with craniosynostosis syndromes, disrupting craniofacial development, yet early mandibular alterations remain poorly characterized. This study examined Meckel's cartilage (MC) and mandibular morphology in mouse models of Apert (Fgfr2+/P253R) and Crouzon (Fgfr2cC342Y/+) syndromes using Euclidean distance matrix analysis and finite element modeling at embryonic days 14.5 and 16.5. Apert mice exhibited significant MC shortening and elevated, widespread strain in the growth center area correlating with mandibular shortening and asymmetry. In contrast, Crouzon mice showed minor MC changes and localized strain peaks with larger mandibles. These biomechanical perturbations in Meckel's cartilage are associated with distinct mandibular phenotypes, consistent with a bidirectional relationship in which altered strain environments may both influence and reflect mandibular dysmorphogenesis during early development. The findings enhance our understanding of the biomechanical basis of mandibular anomalies associated with FGFR2 mutations, informing future investigations into craniofacial morphogenesis.
SN - 1932-8486
SN - 1932-8494
ER -