Cleft palate in A/J mice resulting from restraint and deprivation of food and water

A/J mice were subjected to restraint and/or food and water deprivation for 24 or 48 hours beginning on day 14 of pregnancy. The 48‐hour treatment sharply increased the cleft palate and resorption rates. The data strongly suggest that restraint can cause cleft palate if imposed for an extended period of time.