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Mutation of SATB2 causes cleft palate in humans. To understand the role of SATB2 function in palatogenesis, SATB2 analyses in vertebrate model systems will be essential. To facilitate these analyses, we have performed a cross-species comparison of SATB2 structure and function across three vertebrate model systems: mouse, chick, and zebrafish. We find that the SATB2 transcript is highly conserved across human, mouse, chick, and zebrafish, especially within the Satb2 functional domains. Furthermore, our expression analyses demonstrate that SATB2 is likely to have similar functions in vertebrate model organisms and humans during development of the facial processes and secondary palate. Together, these data suggest an evolutionary conserved role for SATB2 during development of the face and palate across vertebrates. Moreover, expression of zebrafish satb2 in the anterior neurocranium supports the utility of the anterior neurocranium as a simplified model of amniote palatogenesis., (© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

An in vitro fertilization system was developed for the squirrel monkey. Oocytes recovered from follicles of gonadotropin-treated females and cultured in vitro with spermatozoa resulted in fertilized ova capable of developing to the four-cell stage in culture. In total, 264 follicular oocytes were recovered from 922 follicles in 38 Saimiri sciureus. Seventy-nine developed to the first polar body stage, and 32 of the 79 were fertilized in vitro.