Dermal cells form strong adhesions to the basement membrane during the development of feather primordia in chick skin.

Experiments are described which provide a direct measure of the adhesion between dermis and epidermis during the development of feather primordia in chick dorsal skin in culture. The epidermis was peeled from the dermis and the surfaces so exposed were examined under the scanning electron microscope: regions of strong adhesion between the tissues were revealed as areas where their separation was incomplete. The results show that soon after primorida become morphologically distinct, cells from the surface of dermal condensations form adhesions to the basement membrane which are stronger than those between dermis and epidermis interplumar skin. These adhesions may help to hold the epidermis and dermis together during the outgrowth of the primordium.