Figure 8. Palate-intrinsic differences in Bmp7 ^Δ/Δ mutants revealed by organotypic palate cultures.

Ventral view of upper jaw explants from E13.5 Bmp7^wt/lacZ control (A, C, E) or Bmp7^Δ/lacZ (B, D, F) embryos isolated by removing brain, tongue, and mandible prior to culture (A, B), and following culture for 3 days (C, D). Control palatal shelves always showed evidence of reorientation, and fused in approx. half of the cases (C, E). In contrast, mutant shelf elevation was poorer and fusion was never attained (D, F). LacZ staining for Bmp7 transcriptional activity reveals differences in domains of the developing rugae (E, F).