Regulation mechanisms of development, growth and degeneration of craniofacial embryonic tissues.

在小鼠Meckel‘s软骨的发育和退变过程中发现：Meckel’s软骨细胞未见凋亡；发育期Meckel‘s软骨外侧生长面软骨膜有大量凋亡细胞；器官培养的小鼠胚胎下颌骨加用细胞凋亡抑制剂后，Meckel’s软骨部分缺失。这些结果有力地表明，细胞凋亡参与了软骨膜中成软骨细胞的分化，对Meckel‘s软骨的形态发生是必不可少的。

The following findings were obtained in the development and degenerative processes of mouse Meckel's cartilage : apoptosis was not found in Meckel's chondrocytes ; many apoptotic cells were found in the perichondrium of lateral growing aspect of the cartilage during the developing period ; and organ-cultured mouse embryonic mandibles supplemented with an apoptotic depressant showed partial deficiency of Meckel's cartilage. These results strongly suggested that the apoptosis is involved in the differentiation of chondroblasts in the perichondrim and is essential for the morphogenesis of Meckel's cartilage.