Human and Animal Studies in Craniofacial Embryology Enrich Human Postnatal Craniofacial Insight Differently

Abstract

Objectives: To compare results obtained since 1970 from craniofacial embryological studies on human \nfetal tissues with results from similar studies performed on animal tissues and focus on how the different \ntissue types and methods can enrich the human postnatal craniofacial research. There are three sections: i) \nresearch on normal and pathological human fetal material, ii) animal experimental research performed on \ndifferent species, and iii) comparisons of the results obtained. \nHuman Material: On human prenatal material, normal and pathological developmental processes in the \nmandible, maxilla, nasal cavity, body axis, cranial base, vomeronasal organs, pituitary gland and nervous \nsystem were related to postnatal findings. Specific focus was given to pre/postnatal bridging of observations \non holoprosencephaly, cleft lip/palate, Down syndrome, myelomeningocele/spina bifida, Kallmann \nsyndrome, Turner syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Demarcations of pathological regions in Cri du chat, \nVelo-cardio-Facial syndrome and Crouzon syndrome were mapped. \nAnimal Material: Animal experimental results from studies on the notochord, gastrulation, neural crest, \nhindbrain, rhombomere, homeobox genes and experimentally induced malformation were presented. \nComparing materials: The educational background of the scientists performing human and animal \nresearch, their postnatal clinical experience, the research materials used and the methods available for \nresearch are compared. Furthermore, the obtained findings result in a “pro et contra list” indicating what is \npositive and what is negative for improving postnatal human diagnostics. \nConclusion: Human and animal studies in craniofacial embryology enrich human postnatal craniofacial \ninsight differently. Future cooperation between human and animal research cultures is recommended.