Cleft Palate Defect of Dlx1/2−/− Mutant Mice is Caused by Lack of Vertical Outgrowth in the Posterior Palate

摘要

BackgroundMice lacking the activities of Dlx1 and Dlx2 (Dlx1/2^−/−) exhibit cleft palate, one of the most common human congenital defects, but the etiology behind this phenotype has been unknown. Therefore, we analyzed the morphological, cellular, and molecular changes caused by inactivation of Dlx1 and Dlx2 as related to palate development.