Epithelial and basement membrane responses to chick embryo primitive streak grafts.

Chick embryo primitive streak grafts, placed beneath the epiblast of host embryos, tend to result in the formation of either a neural plate in response to anterior streak grafts, or in de-epithelialization in response to posterior grafts. Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical examination shows that both reactions are preceded by basement membrane disruption and early removal of fibronectin therefrom. This disruption does not occur in response to non-streak grafts. It is suggested that the disruption, evoked by primitive streak cells, is a prerequisite first step, allowing direct graft-epiblast cell contact. This contact elicits a specific cytoskeletal reaction determining the epiblast response.