The purpose of this study was to investigate the irradiation effects on the palatal mucosa. For this study, Sprague-Dawley strain rats were irradiated to their head and neck region with the dose of 5Gy and l0Gy by 6MV X -radiation and sacrificed on the experimental periods after irradiation. The authors observed the histological changes of the hard and soft palatal mucosae. The results were as follows: In the light microscopic examination, hydropic change on the basal cells, increased cell size of the epithelium, and decreased epithelial cell layers were observed on the 3hours, 6hours, and 12hours groups after irradiation. But, basal cell hyperplasia, increased epithelial cell layers, and elongated rate pegs were observed on the 3days group after irradiation. After then, these changes were recovered in the mucosa of the hard palate on the 7days and 14days groups, and in the mucosa of the soft palate on the 14days and 2&lays groups after irradiation. And such changes were greater in the mucosa of the soft palate than in that of the hard palate, and more prominent in l0Gy irradiated groups than in 5Gy irradiated groups.