Stage-specific response of the mesenchyme to excess vitamin A in developing rat facial processes

The effects of excess retinol (vitamin A alcohol) on facial process formation were examined in cultured rat embryos. The embryos were explanted at day 11 of gestation (plug day = 0) and cultured for 72 hr in rat serum containing an additional 1 or 10 micrograms/ml retinol. The reduction of outgrowth in the facial processes was observed in 1 microgram/ml retinol-treated embryos, and this type of malformation was found to be more severe in 10 micrograms/ml retinol-treated embryos. Histological findings of 10 micrograms/ml retinol-treated embryos at the 50-somite stage showed that the nasal epithelium was developed but folded. In the mesenchyme, there were necrotic cells. Thymidine incorporation by mesenchymal cells in the facial processes was also determined. At the 50-somite stage, the uptake was decreased to 66.4% of control value at 1 microgram/ml retinol, whereas the addition of the same dose of retinol did not cause the inhibition at the 36-, 40-, and 42-somite stages. The uptake at the 50-somite stage was decreased to 23.0% as a result of the 10 micrograms/ml retinol treatment. These results show that the response of the facial mesenchyme to excess retinol is dependent on the development stage and the critical stage of the facial mesenchyme for excess retinol in cultured rat embryos is the 42-somite stage.