Tails of the unexpected: palatal medial edge epithelium is no more specialized than other embryonic epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether palatal medial edge epithelium (MEE) is specialized in its ability to disappear compared with other embryonic, non-palatal, epithelium.


METHODS
Embryonic tissues harvested from CD1 mice.


METHODS
Organs were cultured in 2 ml of DMEM/F12 supplemented with 300 microg/ml L-glutamine and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. Organs were cultured under various conditions including opposing other organs and opposing an inert material for a period of 6 days. Tissues were then processed for histological examination.


RESULTS
MEE of shelves opposing nothing persisted, whereas MEE of shelves contacting another shelf disappeared. When a tail was placed against a palatal shelf the MEE disappeared, as did the epithelium from the tail, resulting in fusion between the shelf and tail. Furthermore, when palatal shelves were placed against an inert material the MEE disappeared, suggesting pressure alone is a sufficient stimulus to initiate disappearance of the MEE, and that the interaction between the two palatal shelves is not a prerequisite for the disappearance of MEE. Moreover, when two embryonic tails were cultured in close apposition they fused, as did paired limbs. Non-palatal epithelia also disappeared after contact with inert materials. Epithelial disappearance began within 24 h of contact, but there was an age limit.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that embryonic epithelium from non-specific sites around the body has the ability to disappear with mechanical contact resulting in fusion of tissues. MEE may not be as specialized as once thought.
Brown
N L
NL
Division of Child Dental Health, University of Bristol Dental School, Bristol, UK.
Sandy
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D005552:Forelimb / Q000196:embryology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010159:Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D011312:Pressure; D013623:Tail / Q000196:embryology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials