Cranial suture growth as correlated with weight gain in rabbits.

The association of skull growth to weight gain is essential in biometric investigations for correct interpretation of registered results. This was studied in 16 male New Zealand white rabbits aged between 32 and 143 days using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis for measurements of cranial suture growth increments and an accurate scale for weight controls. Skull growth decreased continuously with time apart from the first interval; weight changes varied. Calculated coefficients of determination, linear regressions, and the correlation coefficients for each age interval demonstrated weak correlations. No significant difference between the facial and neurocranial skeleton relative to weight was discerned. The low dependence of cranial variables on weight, as well as the fluctuating weight development, imply a need of great wariness in assessing health conditions by weight registration solely.