The development of ordered structure in neonate rat epidermis.

The establishment of a columnar pattern of organization in rat backskin and earskin was examined by using frozen sections expanded in alkaline buffer and by labeling with 3H-TdR and autoradiography. An adult columnar pattern of organization was established earlier in backskin than earskin. In both tissues the appearance of cell columns was related to a decreasing rate of cell proliferation and, for ear, to a decreasing rate of lateral growth of the epidermis.