Abstract: Objective: To explore the influence of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine on the epithelial mesenchymal transition of facial process in the development of upper lip. Methods: By transplanting beads into the upper lip of chicken embryo which contained O-GlcNAc promoter OGT (O-GlcNAc transferase), O-GlcNAc inhibitor OGA (O-GlcNAcase) or OGA inhibitor STZ (streptozoticin), the over/lower-expression of O-GlcNAc chicken were constructed. After 24h prototypical analysis of skeletal and morphological changes was performed using Alizarin red/Alcian blue method. Fibronectin and P63 were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results: Overexpression of O-GlcNAc led to bone defect in the area of upper lip, and P63 and fibronectin were detected frequently constitutively activated during the development of upper lip, which led to delay and obstacle of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. While there were no serious abnormalities noted on the normal group and the lower-expression group. Conclusion: Overexpression of O-GlcNAc may lead to delay and obstacle of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which may influence the development of upper lip and may lead to cleft lip.

Key words: O-GlcNAc , Epithelial-mesenchymal transition , Upper lip development