Vitamin B6 reduces cortisone-induced cleft palate in the mouse

Administration of Vitamin B6 during gestation to mice on a Vitamin B6-containing diet resulted in a substantial reduction in cortisone-induced cleft palate. Mice maintained on a Vitamin B6-deficient diet demonstrated an increase in the frequency of cortisone-induced cleft palate; this effect was prevented by administration of Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 inhibited the specific binding of a labeled glucocorticoid to cytosolic receptors from cultured palatal mesenchyme cells. These results indicate that Vitamin B6 reduces the incidence of cortisone-induced cleft palate by altering the binding of glucocorticoids to their cytoplasmic receptors and subsequently nuclear acceptors.