Effects of Vitamin B6 on Beta-Aminoproprionitrile–Induced Palatal Cleft Formation in the Rat

Abstract Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-aminoproprionitrile and vitamin B6 on palatal clefting. Method: In four groups of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats, β-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN; 600 mg/kg b.w.) was given by gavage on embryonal day 15, 7 hours to induce palatal clefts. Vitamin B6 (10 mg/kg b.w., IM) was given twice on embryonal day 14, 7 hours and on day 15, 7 hours. The possibility that the food's content of vitamin B6 affected the results was also tested. Palatal cleft formation was divided into four different grades, ranging from no cleft formation to total cleft formation. Results/conclusion: It was found that BAPN induces cleft palate in rat fetuses and that this defect can be prevented both in number and severity by administration of vitamin B6 before and simultaneously with BAPN.