Aspects of skeletal development in fragile X syndrome fetuses.

The purpose of the present investigation was to describe the skeletal development in prenatal fragile X syndrome. We studied fetuses (4 males, 2 females), with gestational ages (GA) 12-14 weeks, from 5 unrelated, different, known carrier mothers. Because of trauma to the fetus during abortion, different parts of the 6 fetuses were available for investigation. The vertebral column and the facial skeleton of all the fetuses were examined, the feet and hands of 5 fetuses, and the cranial base of 3 fetuses. The tissue remnants were examined radiographically and histochemically, and the results compared with previously published normal findings. Radiographic findings included normal ossification sequence, except for 1 fetus where there was an abnormal sequence in the first finger; normal morphology of ossification centres; and nasal bones were absent in the 5 fetuses and present in 1 (14 weeks of gestation). The histological study suggests presence of an acid mucopolysaccharide malfunction in the supporting tissue, because the normal cartilage resorption and orthochromatic cartilage reactions do not appear during the initial enchondral ossification. In addition, the apoptosis of ectodermally derived cells (notochord and palatal epithelial layers) appears delayed or abnormal. The sella turcica was malformed in the 2 fetuses investigated for sella turcica morphology. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.