Objective:To summarize the experimental research progress on murine cleft palate induced by 2

3

7

8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin（TCDD） and to provide new thoughts for further mechanisms in TCDD-induced murine cleft palate.Methods:Literatures from domestic and foreign database including CNKI and NCBI were reviewed

searching the keywords of "cleft palate""TCDD"

etc.Results:Data up till now showed that a stable fetal cleft palate model could be established by treating pregnant mice with a single oral administration of approximate 20 μg/kg of TCDD from gestation day 9 to 14.Palate size altering was not involved in this model.TCDD inhibited palate contact and fusion to induce fetal cleft palate.TCDD altered the expression of a series of growth factors and receptors including epidermal growth factor（EGF）

transforming growth factor（TGF） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor（Ah R） which could regulate cell proliferation

differentiation and apoptosis in palate tissue.Expression alterations of these molecules were still controversial.The cell fate of medial edge epithelium（MEE）which was vital to palate fusion was still not clear.Conclusion:The basis of studies in vivo on TCDD-induced fetal cleft palate is comparatively refined.Regulation mechanisms in palatal devel opment are complicated.It is crucial to notice the space-time dynamics in organgenesis in further research.Culture of palate organ will be an important part of studies in vitro.Revolution of experimental technique and condition appears even more necessary and urgent for research progress in this field.