Effect of expansion forces on collagen in the sagittal suture of the rat

Abstract

The collagen of Sprague-Dawley rat sagittal sutures was investigated to elucidate the effects of expansion forces on the restoration of connective tissue. After the rat sagittal sutures were expanded by optimum (70g) and excessive (220g) forces, they were retained for seven days. I measured the concentrations of total protein, DNA, collagen as hydroxyproline and the ratio of type III to type I collagen in the rat sagittal sutures, and observed the sutural morphology by light microscopy. Expansion of the sagittal suture by excessive force delayed restoration of the connective tissue with the collagen and new bone formation compared with expansion by optimum force.