[Cytophysiologic differentiation in the epithelial region of the uropygial gland in the duck embryo Anas platyrhynchos].

The uropygial gland (preen gland), an epidermal derivative, is a bilobed, lipid-secreting gland located over the base of the tail of most birds. In the duck embryo Anas platyrhynchos, the internal branching morphogenesis of preen gland is set up at the 17th day of incubation. Each glandular lobe is made of numerous epidermal columns each of which is terminated by a bulb or end-bud. The functional differentiation of the end-buds and the development of the cellular columns into collecting ducts were investigated. The ductal epithelium, separated from the mesoderm by a continuous basal lamina, is keratinized just as in normal embryonic avian epidermis. The features which indicate glandular differentiation in the end-buds were described. Lipogenesis results from progressive cellular differentiation characterized by proliferation and development of smooth membranes. The direct ecto-mesodermal contacts, which were observed at the end-buds after the establishment of morphogenetic pattern and before the onset of glandular secretory activity, suggest that a new interaction mechanism would be required to initiate the functional differentiation.