Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the expression of Dishevelled2 and Vangl2 proteins and the development of mouse palate. Methods Twenty-four pregnant mice were randomly divided into eight groups, and the mouse embryos were obtained at eight clock of the pregnant day of thirteen(p13d8h), p13d14h，p13d22h，p14d8h，p14d14h，p14d22h，p15d8h and p15d22h respectively, then paraffin sections were made conventionally.The distrubution and dynamic changes of Dishevelled2 and Vangl2 proteins in the embryonic palatal shelves were detected by immunohistochemistry and image analysis. Results It was found that the two kinds of proteins expressed in the epithelium and mesenchyma of the mouse palatal shelves at different development stages. The expression levels of the Dishevelled2,in both of the epithelium and mesenchyme of the palatal shelves, increased first (p13d8h-p13d22h）,then decreased rapidly（p13d22h-p14d14h）, and then increased again（p14d14h-p15d22h）. The expression of Vangl2 protein in the mesenchyma showed a similar trend to that of the Dishevelled2, but there was no obvious regularity in the epithelium. In addition, the expressive levels of both kinds of proteins in the epithelium were significantly higher than those in mesenchyma of the palatal shelves. C

Key words: Palate, Dishevelled2, Vangl2, Morphogenesis, Immunohistochemistry, Mouse