Desmosomal adhesiveness is developmentally regulated in the mouse embryo and modulated during trophectoderm migration.

During embryonic development tissues remain malleable to participate in morphogenetic movements but on completion of morphogenesis they must acquire the toughness essential for independent adult life. Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions that maintain tissue integrity especially where resistance to mechanical stress is required. Desmosomes in adult tissues are termed hyper-adhesive because they adhere strongly and are experimentally resistant to extracellular calcium chelation.