European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 7 - Number S1
Eur J Anat, 7 (S1): 53-74 (2003)

The development of the palate - A brief review

Moxham B.J.

Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT Palatogenesis is a complex developmental process that requires two main events: elevation and then fusion of the palatal shelves. There remains controversy concerning the mechanism(s) responsible for palatal shelf elevation, it being proposed that an intrinsic shelf elevation force might be produced either by the generation of a turgor pressure following hydration of the extracellular matrix via its glycoconjugate molecules or by proliferation, migration and/or contraction of the palatal shelf mesenchymal cells. Recent evidence indicates that the shelf elevation force is related to the presence of hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix, to an as yet unknown molecule that is packaged in the mesenchymal cells' Golgi complex, and to CD44 receptor functioning. For fusion of the palatal shelves to occur, the breakdown of the midline epithelial seam relates to apoptosis and redifferentiation of the epithelial cells and this appears to be signalled by the synthesis of type IX collagen just prior to the breakdown of the basement membrane around the midline epithelial seam. The events associated with palatogenesis are controlled by the palatal shelf mesenchyme, under the influence of a variety of homeobox genes and transcription factors and and of several growth factors (particularly TGF-?s).

Keywords: collagen type 9, Hermes antigen, hyaluronic acid, transforming growth factor, apoptosis, cell maturation, cell migration, cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, epithelium cell, extracellular matrix, Golgi complex, homeobox, human, mesenchyme, organogenesis, palate, short survey

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)