Xenopus Craniofacial

The XenCart Protocol: A Method for Alcian Blue Labeling and Quantitative Analysis of Craniofacial Cartilage in Xenopus

Craniofacial birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, are among the most common congenital anomalies and often arise from disruptions in early facial patterning. Many of these defects are linked to environmental teratogens, yet such exposures cannot be directly tested in humans, making animal models essential for evaluating developmental risks. Xenopus laevis offers a powerful solution: its tadpoles develop externally, share deeply conserved craniofacial patterning mechanisms with...