[Comparative morphometrical study on development of palatal shelves in cleft and non-cleft palate mice].
OBJECTIVE
To quantitatively compare the relationship between the congenital cleft palate and development of the palatal shelf.


METHODS
Fifty two pairs palatal shelves were macroscopic measured, and 60 series coronal sections were microscopically measured, which were precisely orientated in the coronal plane and serially sectioned at 7 micro m thickness. With the aid of computer imaging analysis system the widths and areas of the palatal shelves in vertical and coronal direction, the maximal areas of the palatal bone and palatal process and alveolar process were measured and compared quantitatively between the cleft group and non-cleft group.


RESULTS
The widths and areas of palatal shelves in cleft foetuses showed significant reduction macroscopically and microscopically as well as the maximal areas of the palatal bone, in addition, both of two processes of the maxilla showed significant developmental deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
The palatal shelves show significant developmental hypoplasia in three dimension directions, which have significant correlation between palatal cleft and trisomic condition.
Cai
Zhi-gang
ZG
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
von Domarus
Helmut
H
Engel
Eveley
E
D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D051379:Mice; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D014314:Trisomy