P-cadherin, CD44 and syndecan 1 confirm the absence of placodes and
dermal condensations in ligand-treated skin. (A-Y) P-cadherin, CD44
and syndecan 1 expression (red) in ligand-treated mouse back skin. P-cadherin
is upregulated at sites of placode formation during HF morphogenesis (A,B).
CD44 and syndecan 1 are expressed only in the DC within the dermal compartment
of embryonic skin during HF morphogenesis (K-M). Controls show a distribution
of P-cadherin, CD44 and syndecan 1 comparable with in vivo embryonic skin
(C,D,N-P). Skin cultured with EGFR ligands EGF (50 ng/ml) or HBEGF (250 ng/ml)
displayed no localised upregulated P-cadherin expression (E-H) and no
differential dermal expression of CD44 or syndecan 1 (Q-V). Skin cultured with
KGF (250 ng/ml) displayed no localised upregulated P-cadherin expression (I,J)
or CD44 (W). KGF treatment resulted in a continuous layer of syndecan 1
expression in the dermal cells subjacent to the epidermis (X,Y). P-cadherin,
CD44 and syndecan 1 (red), laminin (green), nuclear DAPI (blue). Scale bars:
60 μm.