Keratinization of Sheath and Calamus Cells in Developing and Regenerating Feathers
August 2007
in “
Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger
”
TLDR Feathers become harder as they develop due to a change in keratin type.
The study investigated the keratinization process in the feathers of chicks, zebrafinches, and quails, focusing on the transition from alpha-keratin in the sheath to beta-keratin in the calamus, which results in a harder feather structure. This transition was compared to the cornification in reptilian scales and mammalian hair and nails. The research emphasized the role of various cell types in feather morphogenesis and the significance of keratin-associated proteins in the alpha- to beta-keratin transition, enhancing the understanding of feather development and structure.
