Onset of the acquired potentiality for fusion in the palatal shelves of rats

This paper is concerned with that phase of palate development in rats leading to fusion of the shelves in the midline. Previous experimentation in palate development in mammals has encompassed both the earlier phase of assumption of the horizontal position of the palatal shelves, and the subsequent approximation and fusion of the shelves. Since the two processes do not occur simultaneously and can theoretically be studied separately, it was possible and feasible to confine the experiment to the later fusion phase. The present research was designed to eliminate the possible confounding effects of palate rotation in vitro on the fusion of the shelves by approximation of the explanted palatal shelves in the same horizontal plane, irrespective of their original positions in the oral cavity. Current theories of cleft palate pathogenesis hold that either the palatal shelves fail to assume (rotate to) the horizontal position, or, that having done so, they fail to fuse.