Direct intercellular contacts at the ectomesodermal interface during the duck embryologic preen gland development

Summary The epidermis, which lines the uropygial invaginations and which then forms the primary and secondary buds, is separated from the mesenchyma by an uninterrupted basal lamina. Between the end of the internal morphogenesis and the beginning of the secretory activity, direct intertissular contacts are established through the gaps in the basal lamina. They appear to be related to the induction of glandular differentiation.Ce travail a été réalisé avec l'aide financière de la D. G. R. S. T. (action concertée D. G. R. S. T. Biologie de la Reproduction et du Développement, contrat No. 75-7-0803).