title: Immunohistochemical demonstration of connexins in the developing feather follicle of the chicken.
abstract: Based on immunohistochemistry, the study demonstrates the varying distribution and reaction intensity of connexins (Cx26 [chicken 31sim], 30 [chicken 31], 31, 32, 43, 45) in the developing feather follicle of the chicken (White Leghorn). The different embryonal stages were identified according to the normal table of Hamburger and Hamilton (1951). The development of the feather follicle complex is closely related to skin layer development, making use of the controlling function of connexins. This was evident during feather follicle differentiation, based on communication between ectomesodermal (fibroblasts) and ectodermal cells (developing epidermis), but also by the subsequent separation of the two cell line types related to their connexin-dependent differentiation degree. With the increase in mesenchymal cell numbers during feather placode development, the multiple connexins Cx26 [chicken 31sim] and 43, supported by Cx30 [chicken 31], 31 and 32, were increasingly activating the fibroblast concentrations as related to epidermal follicle buds, the specific follicle structure, the endothelial cells of capillaries and larger blood vessels, as well as the collagen fiber production and the growing feather musculature shortly before hatching; Cx45 could not be demonstrated. In conclusion, it seems that connexin expression is not only coupled to the origin of embryonic cells, but also connected with tissue formation before the follicle system can be formed.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany; Institute for Cytobiology and Cytopathology, University of Marburg, Robert-Koch-Str. 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oberthuer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biophysics, Leibniz University of Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Anaclet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ngezahayo
authors.affiliation: Poultry Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cytobiology and Cytopathology, University of Marburg, Robert-Koch-Str. 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: jacob@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005241:Feathers; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins
keywords: Chicken; Connexins; Feather follicle development; Histochemistry