Lathyrogen-induced malformations in baboons: a preliminary report

Correlation between alterations in Meckel's cartilage and induction of cleft palate with beta-aminoproprionitrile in the rat

The lathyrogen beta-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN) induces cleft palate in rats when administered at a critical time in secondary palate formation. BAPN is known to inhibit the crosslinking of newly synthesized collagen, but its primary site of action in producing cleft palate is unknown. In this study time-mated Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single oral dose of 600 mg/kg BAPN at five known gestational ages in the 48 hours before palatal shelf elevation, and the fetuses were studied on days 16, 17 and 18. Evaluation of craniofacial relations and palate development in BAPN-treated heads revealed that delayed palatal shelf elevation and resulting cleft palate were related to retrognathia of the mandible. However, shortening of the mandible was due primarily to vertical and lateral bending of Meckel's cartilage. High and retruded tongue positions that were present with the deformities in Meckel's cartilage interfered with palatal shelf movement to the horizontal plane. The group treated with BAPN at 15 days 7 hours, approximately 24 hours before normal palatal shelf elevation, had the most severe defects in Meckel's cartilage, the longest delay in palatal shelf elevation and the highest incidence of cleft palate. Inhibition of crosslinking of collagen in Meckel's cartilage appeared to weaken the cartilage during the critical period in facial development when extention of the tongue and mandible beneath the primary palate is required to facilitate palatal shelf elevation.

The effect of D-penicillamine of the skeletal development of rat foetuses

Rats received 20, 50 or 100 mg/animal D-penicillamine i.p. twice daily on days 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of gestation, i.e. a total dose of 200, 500 resp. 1000 mg/animal. At all dosages the number of fetal resorptions did not increase significantly. Weight of the 20 day old embryos as well as length of the long bones in the extremities in the 100 mg-group showed a significant decrease. Numerous skeletal alterations could be observed in the 1000 mg-group such as absence, deformations or incomplete mineralisation of bones. Light microscopic examinations revealed an inhibition of the ossification as well as a decrease of number and size of the trabecula and of the thickness of the perichondrial bone sheath. A swelling of the collagenous fibrils can be demonstrated with the electron microscope. The first apatite crystals aggregate in collagen-free areas. The fusion of these aggregates to homogenously mineralized trabecula is inhibitied. In contrast to bones from untreated embryos, mineralized areas show varying content of collagen and apatide crystals. A regular spatial relationship between apatite crystals and collagenous fibrils does not develop. These findings show that even after the so-called "critical period" malformations can be pproduced by substances which disturb synthesis and maturation of the mesenchymal intercellular substance.