[Teratogen-modified palatogenesis in the Uje: WIST rat. 4. Scanning electron microscopic morphology of the epithelium during the formation of the secondary palate].

In normal morphogenesis age-dependent and regional differences in the surface structure of epithelial cells appear, whereas in teratogenesis no qualitative changes can be observed. During the horizontal adjustment of the palatal shelves the pronounced marking of the cellular borders with microvilli has disappeared. The reduced number of microvilli in the subsequent phase of adhesion might affect the cell-cell identification and thus disturb the further cell differentiation.