Differentiation potential of rat amnion.

Thedifferentiation potential ofratamnion wasinvestigated byexplantation todifferent extrauterine sites andbyculturing invitro. Amniondifferentiated into full skin byaprocess that ismorphologically indistinguishable fromnormal skin development (interactions ofthesurface embryonic ectoderm and underlying mesenchyme). Thisprocess isnotdependent ontheageoftheamnion butisdependent onthe culture conditions used. Possible implications ofthese findings arediscussed.