title: [The fate of epithelial cells during fusion of primary palate in vitro].
abstract: It has been demonstrated that palatal shelf epithelium transforms into mesenchymal cells during fusion of the secondary palate. However, the fate of epithelial cells in primary palate formation is still unclear. To specify the presumptive fusion area of the primary palate, focal labeling of epithelial cells of medial nasal prominence (MNP), lateral nasal prominence (LNP) and maxillary prominence (Mx) of gestational day 12.0 rat embryos was initially done with fluorescent DiI, and they were cultured for 24 h. As a result, the presumptive fusion area was identified and it was found that there was a difference of the fusion process between MNP-Mx and MNP-LNP. Next, in order to elucidate the fate of epithelial cells in the fusion areas, facial epithelium was labeled with a recombinant adenovirus, Adex-LacZ in the whole embryo culture system and they were observed over time (12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h). LacZ positive cells were observed in the fused region of MNP-Mx and MNP-LNP. Moreover, it was found that there were not only double positive cells of LacZ and TUNEL staining of apoptosis but also some TUNEL nonpositive cells. These findings indicated that a number of epithelial cells in the fusion area become apoptosis, but some cells survive by epithelial-mesenchymal transformation during primary palate formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010159:Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes