skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Cellular alterations and enhanced induction of cleft palate after coadministration of retinoic acid and TCDD

Journal Article · · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology; (USA)
;  [1]
  1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and retinoic acid (RA) are both teratogenic in mice. TCDD is a highly toxic, stable environmental contaminant, while RA is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. Exposure to TCDD induces hydronephrosis and cleft palate, and exposure to RA induces limb defects and cleft palate. Teratology studies previously have shown that the incidence of clefting is higher after exposure to RA + TCDD than would be observed for the same doses of either compound given alone. This study examines the cellular effects which result in cleft palate, after po administration on gestation Day (GD) 10 or 12 of RA + TCDD in corn oil (10 ml/kg total volume). Exposure on GD 10 to 6 micrograms TCDD + 40 mg RA/kg inhibited early growth of the shelves and clefting was due to a failure of shelves to meet and fuse. This effect on mesenchyme was observed in previous studies to occur after exposure on GD 10 to 40 mg/kg RA alone, but not after TCDD alone. After exposure on GD 12 to 6 micrograms TCDD + 80 mg RA/kg, clefting was due to a failure of shelves to fuse after making contact, because the medial cells differentiated into an oral-like epithelium. This response was observed in previous studies to occur after exposure to TCDD alone, but RA alone on GD 12 resulted in differentiation toward nasal-like cells. The interaction between TCDD and RA results in RA-like clefting after exposure on GD 10 and TCDD-like clefting after exposure on GD 12, and this clefting occurs at higher incidences than would occur after the same levels of either agent alone. After exposure on either GD 10 or 12 to RA + TCDD, the programmed cell death of the medial cells does not occur, and these cells continue to express EGF receptors and to bind 125I-EGF. The effects of RA and TCDD may involve modulation of the cells responses to embryonic growth and differentiation factors.

OSTI ID:
5477079
Journal Information:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology; (USA), Vol. 99:2, Issue 2; ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

TCDD alters medial epithelial cell differentiation during palatogenesis
Journal Article · Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology; (USA) · OSTI ID:5477079

Rat embryonic palatal shelves respond to TCDD in organ culture
Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology; (USA) · OSTI ID:5477079

Comparisons of the effects of TCDD and hydrocortisone on growth factor expression provide insight into their interaction in the embryonic mouse palate
Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · OSTI ID:5477079