Dhcr7 Regulates Palatal Shelf Fusion through Regulation of Shh and Bmp2 Expression.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (Dhcr7) gene and identify signaling pathways involved in regulation of embryonic palatogenesis. The expression of Dhcr7 and its protein product were examined during murine normal embryonic palatogenesis via a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB). RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to inhibit Dhcr7 expression in a palatal shelf culture in vitro.

[Establishment of palatal organ culture model of C57BL/6J mouse embryos in vitro].

Purpose: To establish palatal organ culture model of C57BL/6J mouse embryos in vitro and provide platform for study of embryo palatal development.

Methods: The mouse palatal shelves were harvested under sterilization from a female mouse of gestation day(GD) 13.5 by stereoscopic microscope and cultured in vitro.