Development of chick embryo conjunctival papillae and scleral ossicles after hydrocortisone treatment

Abstract

The effects of hydrocortisone injection on the development of conjunctival papillae and scleral ossicles were studied in New Hampshire Red chick embryos. Hydrocortisone injected at several different incubation stages reduced the number of conjunctival papillae and the eventual number of scleral ossicles which were produced. Repeated injections given at selected stages caused characteristic patterns of papilla deficiency. The ability to manipulate this system predictably may prove useful in the study of cell activity and supercellular organization during the initiation of organ formation.