Adhesion Molecules in Skin Development: Morphogenesis of Feather and Hair

The document discussed the morphogenetic process of feather and hair formation, highlighting the role of mesenchymal cells and various adhesion molecules such as L-CAM, N-CAM, integrin, and tenascin. These molecules played distinct roles in the process, as interference with specific antibodies resulted in different developmental patterns. Hair and feather follicles formed through cell proliferation and epithelial invagination, with the dermal papilla and feather collar enriched with specific molecules. Growth factors like PDGF and EGF were involved in epithelial cell division and differentiation. In feathers, additional morphogenetic events led to the formation of branched structures, with N-CAM playing a role in cell death and the creation of secondary and tertiary branches. The study emphasized the complexity and specificity of adhesion molecule functions in feather and hair morphogenesis.