Effect of concanavalin A on the palatine ridges in vitro]

Concanavalin A acts in three ways on palatal shelves cultivated in vitro: 1. it has a mitogen effect, particularly on the medio palatal epithelium; 2. this produces thickening of this epithelium; 3. a delayed fusion or no fusion of the palatal shelves. The renewed mitogen activity and loss of adhesion properties seem to be linked.