EFFECT OF DECAPITATION ON THE FETAL SKIN IN PIGLETS

The effect of decapitation on the skin of foetal piglets was studied a nd the structure of the neonatal skin of decapitated piglets was compa red with that of the intact littermates. In decapitated piglets, the e pidermis was undifferentiated with its outermost layer conspicuously t hick. Except the basal cells, other cells were vacuolated. Few primary epithelial germs and buds were visible in the superficial dermis. The skin was hairless and, in general, the development of the dermis appe ared to have ceased at a certain stage affecting me growth of other sk in appendages.