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A study was undertaken to analyze the spatio-temporal pattern of mesenchymal cell proliferation in the developing palate of quail. Quail embryos were grown in shell-less culture. The developing palates were labelled with 3H-thymidine between culture days 2-6 (which corresponded in vivo incubation days 5-9), and processed for light microscopic autoradiography. Percent labelled mesenchymal cells were determined. The data showed that, as in mammals, a high rate of random cell proliferation in mesenchyme was a major component of early palate development in quail. As the palate morphogenesis advanced, the rate of cell proliferation declined. Segmental analysis, however, indicated that, in contrast to mammals, the mesenchymal cell proliferation rates continually changed in various regions of quail palate during morphogenesis. It was suggested that the spatio-temporal changes in the distribution of dividing cells may reflect differences in the timings of cell cycles between various segments, thus resulting in a heterogeneous population of cells in the developing palate of quail. Further, the differences in the segmental pattern of cell proliferation between birds and mammals may form the basis for differences in the morphogenesis of their palates.

A comparative study was undertaken to investigate the effects of 5-fluorouracil (FU) on glycosaminoglycans (GAG) synthesis during morphogenesis of the secondary palate in birds (where, unlike mammals, palate morphogenesis begins in a horizontal direction ad initium and lacks mammalian-type shelf reorientation) and mammal. Previous studies have shown that FU induces cleft palate in both birds and mammals. Air sacs of quail eggs were injected with 100 micrograms FU in 0.1 ml saline or 0.1 ml saline only. Hamsters were given intramuscular injection of 81 mg/kg FU in 1 ml saline or 1 ml saline only. Total GAG synthesis was measured by incorporation of 3H-glucosamine. Sulfated and non-sulfated GAGs were identified by Alcian Blue histochemistry combined with the use of GAG-degrading enzymes. The results indicated that a continuous synthesis of GAG at a steady rate was associated with normal palate morphogenesis in both quail and hamster. The amount of GAG synthesized in hamster palate was four-fold higher than in quail palate. In contrast to the developing hamster palate where the predominant GAG was hyaluronate, the major GAGs present during quail palate development were sulfated and were concentrated on the nasal side. FU treatment did not affect the rate of GAG synthesis in the developing palate of quail. In contrast, FU administration altered the rates of GAG synthesis, and affected hyaluronate accumulation, during palate morphogenesis in hamster.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)