In Vitro Study of Fusion of Palatal Shelves in A/Jax Mouse Embryos

Abstract

This investigation seeks to study by tissue culture technics the palatogenesis in A/JAX mouse embryos and the effects of cortisone thereupon. For tissue culture technics, the embryos were aseptically removed from the uteri of the mother on the day 13 1/2 of pregnancy. The maxillary vault was surgically dissected from Ihf3 remaining fetus body and was placed in tissue culture tube fed with Eagle''s basal culture medium with 8% calf serum, amino acids, vitamins and glutamine added to it. The tubes were kept in 37[degree]C incubator for 72 hrs. and were regularly examined at 12 hr. intervals. Palatal shelves of the fetuses borne by untreated mothers showed growth and fusion within 48 hrs when placed in the tissue culture media (Group I). This growth potential was only partially retained if the mothers were given 7.5 mg of cortisone (I.M.? on day 11 1/2 of gestation (Group II). This was quite evident from fewer palatal shelves exhibiting fusion. When 2.5 mg cortisone/ml was added to the tissue culture media, palatal shelves of fetuses from untreated mothers exhibited lack of fusion (Group III). This indicated that cortisone inhibited proliferation of fibroblasts and formation of connective tissue when added directly to the tissue culture media or reached the fetus indirectly shrough placental barrier.