1. The culture in vitro of the tail-bud of duck embryos aged 8,9, and 10 days permits the formation of uropygial invaginations (rudiments of the preen gland) that normally appear on the 11th day of incubation.

  2. The separation of the various tissues of the tail-bud of 10-day duck embryos and their culture in association with some other duck embryonic tissues has made it possible to locate, at this stage, the ‘organizer’ of the preen gland in the superficial stratum of the dermis.

  3. The formation of the glandular invaginations results from an interaction between ectoderm and mesoderm, in which, at the beginning, only the mesoderm is specific.

  4. The ectoderm of chick embryos and rabbit embryos is able to react to contact with this mesoderm in the same way as the ectoderm of duck embryo.

You do not currently have access to this content.