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EXPERIMENTAL MODELS FOR THE STUDY OF ORAL CLEFTS
Citation:
Abbott, B D. EXPERIMENTAL MODELS FOR THE STUDY OF ORAL CLEFTS. First Edition, Chapter 15, Diego F. Wyszynski (ed.), Cleft Lip and Palate: From Origin to Treatment. Oxford University Press, Cary, NC, , 193-202, (2002).
Description:
Toxicology and teratology studies routinely utilize animal models to determine the potential for chemical and physical agents to produce reproductive and developmental toxicity, including birth defects such as cleft palate. The standardized teratology screen typically tests compounds in two species, one of which is a non-rodent and the laboratory rat and rabbit are often the species of choice for such screens. However, research examining the mechanisms through which agents induce their teratogenic effects is conducted in a variety of mammalian species, including mice, rats, or hamsters, as well as in non-mammalian species including species of bird, fish and frog. A variety of in vitro models is also available to researchers interested in the study of palatogenesis. The literature presenting palatal research is extensive and many outstanding studies could be cited in which a wide range of models were developed and applied, however it is beyond the scope of this article to present more than a brief overview of some of these models and an example of their application in the study of environmental contaminants. The following sections present an overview of in vivo and in vitro models with a discussion of the specialized requirements for research addressing the etiology of clefting. The final portion of the chapter will provide an example of applications of these models to test the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).