The Behaviour of Grafts of Primitive Streak Beneath the Primitive Streak of the Chick

Abstract

Grafts consisting of pieces of primitive streak from blastoderms in the primitive streak stage were placed under the primitive streak of blastoderms also in this stage. Various effects of the host on the graft are described, particularly the reversal of the antero-posterior orientation of the graft, the alteration of the regional character of the graft so as to conform with the host tissues at the same level, the suppression of differentiation in the posterior end of the primitive streak, and the incorporation of the graft tissues into the host. A considerable number of inductions occurred, since the host axis often apparently shifts to one side of the graft. The inductions are of two kinds, the normal evocation by graft mesoderm, resulting usually in the formation of superfluous neural tissue; and the complementary induction of a normal secondary axis, which it is supposed is most often due to the preliminary induction of a primitive streak in the host. Various effects of the graft on the host occur. In particular the disturbance of the head mesenchyme suggests that foregut diverticula are produced where head mesenchyme joins lateral plate mesothelium.