OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether or not administration of vitamin B(6) (vitB(6)) has preventive effects on cleft palate formation.

METHODSOn the 14, 15 day of gestation, the pregnant rats were treated with administration of vitB(6) (10 mg/kg weight im) before and simultaneously with dexamethason (DEX). Compared the palatal cleft incidence of their fetuses with those whose mother were given DEX only.

RESULTSTreatment with administration of vitB(6) before and simultaneously with DEX, the palatal cleft incidence of subject group fetuses (32.35%) was significantly less than that given DEX only (64.52%). The proportion of the palatal cleft type was also changed significantly.

CONCLUSIONSVitB(6) decrease both the incidence and the severity of cleft palate induced by DEX in rats, which indicates VitB(6) may have preventive effects on cleft palate formation.