Craniofacial morphology and growth in the ferret: effects from alteration of masticatory function.

Introduction: Our hypothesis is that any effects on craniofacial growth and morphology induced by altering the masticatory function will vary according to the species involved. The general aim of this thesis was to test the possible effects of altering the masticatory function on craniofacial growth and morphology, as well as features of masticatory muscles in ferrets. To better elucidate these mechanisms involved, the anatomy of the skull, craniofacial growth pattern and development of occlusion in the ferret were investigated to serve as baseline data.

Materials and methods: The description of the anatomy and the radiographic features of the skull was based on observations of 100 skulls of adult ferrets of both sexes. The craniofacial growth pattern was studied in 16 young ferrets of both sexes using serial cephalograms taken on 5 occasions according to age: 25 days, 35 days, 55 days, 80 days and 300 days. To follow the development of occlusion, these animals underwent dental examinations every other day. Forty male ferrets were divided into two groups from the age of 5 weeks. One group was fed hard pellets (hard-diet group), and the other the same diet but softened with water (soft-diet group). After six months, specimens of masticatory muscles were dissected and analysed histochemically, and cephalograms were analysed cephalometrically.

Results: The ferret skull is relatively elongated with a short facial region, being longer and broader in males than in females. The viscero- and neurocranium follow an orderly pattern of expansive growth. The growth of the mandible is mainly characterized by an anteroposterior body elongation, and enlargement of the coronoid process. Craniofacial growth in ferrets ceases earlier in female than in male animals. The deciduous teeth erupted between the 19th and 31st postnatal day, and exfoliated approximately between days 51 and 76. The time of eruption of the permanent teeth ranged from 42 to 77 days. The female ferrets were generally ahead of the males regarding the eruption age of permanent teeth. The alteration of the masticatory function by feeding the animals a soft diet caused a hard palate plane more distant from the cranial base plane, smaller inter-frontal and inter-parietal widths, and a slenderer zygomatic arch, as well as a generally shorter and narrower coronoid process. Variations of most variables are greater in animals fed on soft diet. The mean cross-sectional area of type I and type II fibres in the temporalis and the masseter, and type II fibres in the digastricus, as well as the number of capillaries per fibre were significantly smaller in the soft-diet animals.

Conclusion: Altered masticatory function has induced changes in masticatory muscles and certain effects on craniofacial growth in ferrets. These changes are not the same as those reported in other species (e.g. rats). It appears that reduced masticatory function leads to smaller fibres in the elevators and transverse skull dimensions. The different effects are presumably related to the differences in craniofacial anatomy and growth pattern, as well as the masticatory system, in the various species studied previously.