Avian scale development. XI. Initial appearance of the dermal defect in scaleless skin

The chicken mutant, scaleless, is characterized by the total absence of scutate scales. Previous experiments have shown that the scaleless defect is expressed by the epidermal cells while the dermal cells are able to participate in normal scale morphogenesis. However, in association with 14- to 16-day scaleless dermis, normal epidermis or the simple ectoderm of the chorion failed to develop scutate scale epidermis with its characteristic beta stratum. Thus the question arises: since the scaleless dermis starts out functioning normally, when does it become defective? Heterogenetic, heterotopic associations have been performed between 7.5-day to 11.5-day scaleless dermis and a neutral responding tissue, the midventral apteric epidermis, from 10.5-day normal embryos. The results show that up until 9.5 day of incubation the scaleless dermis is able to give instructions for normal scutate scale formation, if combined with normal epidermis. However, after 9.5 days, the scaleless dermis is not able to induce scale formation in normal apteric epidermis. Thus, the functional defect of the scaleless dermis occurs during the time (9 to 10 days of incubation) when epidermal placodes appear in normal embryos. From the present data, at least two explanations are possible. Either the scaleless epidermis is unable to respond to the placode inducing properties being provided by the scaleless dermis and because an epidermal placode does not form the scaleless dermis becomes defective, or the scaleless epidermis does not provide some earlier cue necessary for the scaleless dermis to acquire its placode inducing capabilities.