Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM： To study the expression of heat shock protein 60 gene (Hsp60) in normal forelimbs and short forelimb malformations，normal palates and cleft palates during embryogenesis in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At gestational day 10(GD10),mice in the treatment group and the control group were given 80 mg/kg of all_trans retinoic acid and the same volume of soybean oil,respectively. The forelimbs of all embryos were harvested during GD11_GD18，and the palates were obtained during GD15_GD17. The expression levels of Hsp60 in all samples was measured by real_time quantity reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (QRT_PCR). RESULTS: Hsp60 was expressed in all samples. In the normal forelimbs high expressions were found on GD14, GD17 and GD18, and same in the short forelimb malformations, with no difference among all the samples(P>0.05). The expression of Hsp60 in the abnormal limbs was stronger than that in the normal limbs during GD11_GD18(P<0.05). The expression of Hsp60 in the normal palates was stable during GD15_GD17. In the cleft palates,the expression of Hsp60 decreased with age during GD15_GD17. The expression of Hsp60 in the normal palates was stronger than that of the cleft palates during GD15_GD17(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: During embryogenesis in mice, the expression level of Hsp60 in all_trans retinoic acid_induced short limb malformations was increased by stress, but that in cleft palates was suppressed.

Key words: heat shock protein 60 gene (Hsp60), embryo, limb, palate, development