title: Epithelial alterations of secondary palate formation.
abstract: This study was undertaken to examine the normal and abnormal epithelial alterations of secondary palate in rats. Control and dexamethasone-treated embryos and fetuses of Wistar rats were evaluated by macroscopic and scanning electron microscopic analysis prior to, during, and after fusion of palatal processes. Normal alterations of the surface topography included growth and disorganization of medial edge epithelial cells followed by fusion and posterior migration to both the oral and nasal aspects of the palate. No evidence of epithelial cell death or transformation was observed. Dexamethasone-treated fetuses showed epithelial cells increased in size with a large amount of desquamation, followed by deposition of a disorganized cell layer with keratin-like characteristics. This allowed no fusion of palatal processes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ortodontia, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. ortoufba@cdl.com.br
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bolognese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000196:embryology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D007633:Keratins; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013723:Teratogens
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013723:Teratogens; D007633:Keratins; D003907:Dexamethasone