title: Biotin influences palatal development of mouse embryos in organ culture.
abstract: Maternal biotin deficiency is strongly teratogenic in CD-1 mice. The most common malformations are craniofacial and limb defects such as cleft palate, micrognathia and micromelia. The effect of biotin deficiency on palatal development in mouse embryos on d 12 of gestation was studied by culturing mouse embryonic palates in serum-free medium using a suspension culture system. In control embryos palatal processes developed to the fused stage after 72 h in culture. The fusion of palatal processes was further increased by the addition of biotin (10(-8) mol/L) to the medium. The addition of organic acids such as propionic, beta-methyl crotonic or beta-hydroxy isovaleric acids as well as avidin to the medium did not affect the stage of palatal formation. Cycloheximide completely blocked the fusion of palatal shelves. In embryos from biotin-deficient mice, the incidence of fusion between the palatal shelves was < 7% and increased to > 30% when biotin (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L) was added to the medium. The addition of fatty acids to the organ culture medium did not have any effect on the fusion of palatal processes. The incorporation of 35S-methionine into protein from biotin-deficient embryo explants was 88% of that in controls. The results indicate that biotin deficiency may interfere directly with synthesis of specific proteins and the formation of palatal processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dakshinamurti
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Persaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001710:Biotin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001710:Biotin