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An Explant Assay for Assessing Cellular Behavior of the Cranial Mesenchyme
07:45

An Explant Assay for Assessing Cellular Behavior of the Cranial Mesenchyme

Published on: January 20, 2013

Cleft lip and palate due to deficiency of mesencephalic neural crest cells

J van Limborgh, S H Lieuw Kie Song, W Been

    The Cleft Palate Journal
    |July 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Neural crest cells are crucial for facial development. Their deficiency in chick embryos led to a higher incidence of cleft lip and palate, indicating a link between neural crest cell development and craniofacial anomalies.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental biology
    • Craniofacial development
    • Embryology

    Background:

    • Craniofacial anomalies like cleft lip and palate are common birth defects.
    • The role of specific embryonic cell populations in their etiology is under investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of mesencephalic neural crest cells in the development of the maxillary process.
    • To determine the potential causal link between mesencephalic neural crest cell deficiency and cleft lip/palate formation.

    Main Methods:

    • Partial elimination of mesencephalic neural crest cells in chick embryos using tangential microlaser ablation.
    • Serial sectioning and microscopic examination of surviving embryos at different developmental stages (24 hours, 7 days, 12 days).

    Main Results:

    • A deficiency in maxillary process mesenchyme was observed in embryos with reduced mesencephalic neural crest cells.
    • 26% of surviving embryos exhibited unilateral cleft lip, wide palatal cleft, or combined anomalies.

    Conclusions:

    • Partial deficiency of mesencephalic neural crest cells can lead to insufficient maxillary process mesenchyme growth.
    • This mesenchyme deficiency is a potential cause of cleft lip and palate in chick embryos.

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