In vitro studies on the self-differentiating capacities of quail adenohypophysis epithelium

Isolated epithelial rudiments of 3--4 days quail embryo adenohypophysis were cultivated in vitro. Differentiation of glandular cells occurred when culture conditions allowed the formation of explants characterized by the presence of a fibroblastic sheet and of an epithelial roof surrounding a central cavity. Differentiation did not occur when culture conditions did not allow the fibroblastic sheet to be established or resulted in the absence of a cavity. The importance of the explant structure in differentiation is also indicated by the location of glandular cells. In vitro they differentiate near the cavity derived from Rathke's pouch lumen while in situ they first appear at the periphery of the rudiment, near the basement membrane. The results of this study show that the adenohypophyseal primordium can differentiate without any mesenchymal influence. The observed differentiation seems to be correlated with fibroblast-secreted material, and this hypothesis is discussed.