Int. J. Dev. Biol. 45: S101 - S102 (2001)

Vol 45, Issue S1

Adhesion of medial edge epithelium cells is altered in the absence of Transforming Growth Factor beta(3)

Published: 1 June 2001

C Tudela, R Bonelli, C Ortega, MA Formoso, T Martinez, R Perez, C Maestro, A Del Rio, J Murillo, C Barrio, C Martinez-Alvarez

Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Med, Dept Ciencias Morfol 1, E-28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Mutations of the gene of Transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-beta (3)) lead to cleft palate in both humans and mice. This cleft seems to be produced by a defect in the adhesion of opposing medial edge epithelia (MEE) when contact between palatal shelves occurs. Using immunohistochesmistry, we demonstrate here that intercellular adhesion is altered in MEE cells of TGF-beta (3) null mutant mice. The most striking features observed in these palates are the irregular distribution of beta -catenin in the cytoplasm, in contrast to the regular and circumferential location found in wild type embryos, and the different expression of vinculin and beta -actin, which is similar to the observed in the wild type oral palatal epithelium, that does not participate in palatal fusion.

Keywords

Palatal fusion, factor-beta-3