scholarly journals Polarity of the mouse embryo is anticipated before implantation

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (24) ◽  
pp. 5591-5598 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Weber ◽  
R.A. Pedersen ◽  
F. Wianny ◽  
M.J. Evans ◽  
M. Zernicka-Goetz
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Bilateral Symmetry ◽  
Visceral Endoderm ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Axis Of Symmetry

In most species, the polarity of an embryo underlies the future body plan and is determined from that of the zygote. However, mammals are thought to be an exception to this; in the mouse, polarity is generally thought to develop significantly later, only after implantation. It has not been possible, however, to relate the polarity of the preimplantation mouse embryo to that of the later conceptus due to the lack of markers that endure long enough to follow lineages through implantation. To test whether early developmental events could provide cues that predict the axes of the postimplantation embryo, we have used the strategy of injecting mRNA encoding an enduring marker to trace the progeny of inner cell mass cells into the postimplantation visceral endoderm. This tissue, although it has an extraembryonic fate, plays a role in axis determination in adjacent embryonic tissue. We found that visceral endoderm cells that originated near the polar body (a marker of the blastocyst axis of symmetry) generally became distal as the egg cylinder formed, while those that originated opposite the polar body tended to become proximal. It follows that, in normal development, bilateral symmetry of the mouse blastocyst anticipates the polarity of the later conceptus. Moreover, our results show that transformation of the blastocyst axis of symmetry into the axes of the postimplantation conceptus involves asymmetric visceral endoderm cell movement. Therefore, even if the definitive axes of the mouse embryo become irreversibly established only after implantation, this polarity can be traced back to events before implantation.

Membrane organization in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-121
Author(s):  
Hester P. M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Molecular Organization ◽  
Surface Polarity ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Polarized Epithelium

The preimplantation mouse blastocyst consists of two differentiated tissues, the trophectoderm (a structurally and functionally polarized epithelium) and the inner cell mass. The divergence of these two cell types can be traced back to a contact dependent polarization of the surface and cytoplasm at the 8-cell stage. Membrane/cytocortical organization during this preimplantation period has been studied using freeze fracture in conjunction with the sterol-binding antibiotic filipin in an attempt to discern the molecular basis and origin of these surface asymmetries. The distribution of filipin reactivity within the different membrane domains showed that the surface polarity exhibited by trophectoderm and by blastomeres of the 8-cell stage is underlain by a heterogeneity in molecular organization of the membrane/cytocortex which may originate prior to the appearance of any overt surface polarity. The results are discussed in terms of the likely basis of this membrane/cytocortical asymmetry, its probable origins and the use of the preimplantation mouse embryo as a model system for studying the assembly of a polarized epithelium.

Experimental studies on the organization of the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-254
Author(s):  
M. Susan Stern ◽  
I. B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Mouse Eggs

The interaction between mouse eggs conjoined in pairs of different ages and stages of development has been examined: 1. Forty-two per cent of chimaeras formed from 8-cell eggs paired with late morulae or early blastocysts produced morphologically normal, but large, blastocysts. 2. Fusion of pairs of vitally labelled and unlabelled eggs has shown that presumptive trophoblast derived from as late as the early blastocyst stage can become incorporated into the inner cell mass of chimaeras. These observations suggest that the preimplantation chimaeric embryo can regulate for chronological differences in its constituent cells and that the trophoblast up to the early blastocyst stage may still be developmentally labile.

The nature and distribution of serologically detectable alloantigens on the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-72
Author(s):  
Audrey L. Muggleton-Harris ◽  
Martin H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Mouse Embryos ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryos ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse

The nature and distribution of surface alloantigens on preimplantation mouse embryos has been examined by immunofluorescence. Non-H-2 alloantigens were detected at allstages examined, from the 2-cell to the 4½-day blastocyst. Cleaving blastomeres, inner cell mass cells and cells of the primary trophectoderm were all positive. In F1 embryos maternalnon-H-2 alloantigens were detectable at all stages, whereas paternal antigens first became evident at the 6- to 8-cell stage. No convincing evidence of the presence of alloantigens associated with the H-2 haplotype was found at any stage or on any cell type, suggesting that if these antigens are present they are in low quantity or are masked.

Interactions of blastomeres suggest changes in cell surface adhesiveness during the formation of inner cell mass and trophectoderm in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-152
Author(s):  
Susan J. Kimber ◽  
M. Azim ◽  
H. Surani ◽  
Sheila C. Barton
Keyword(s):  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Trophectoderm Cells ◽  
Adhesive Surface ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Divergent Differentiation ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
The Difference

Whole 8-cell morulae can be aggregated with isolated inner cell masses from blastocysts. On examining semithin light microscope sections of such aggregates we found that cells of the morula changed shape and spread over the surface of the ICM, thus translocating it to the inside of the aggregate. Using single cells from 8-cell embryos in combination with single cells from other stage embryos or isolated ICMs we show that 1/8 blastomeres spread over other cells providing a suitably adhesive surface. The incidence of spreading is high with inner cells from 16-cell embryos (56 %) and 32-cell embryos (62%) and isolated inner cell masses (64%). In contrast, the incidence of spreading of 1/8 blastomeres is low over outer cells from 16-cell embryos (26%) and 32-cell embryos (13%). Blastomeres from 8-cell embryos do not spread over unfertilized 1-cell eggs, 1/2 or 1/4 cells or trophectoderm cells contaminating isolated ICMs. When 1/8 cells are aggregated in pairs they flatten on one another (equal spreading) as occurs at compaction in whole 8-cell embryos. However, if 1/8 is allowed to divide to 2/16 in culture one of the cells engulfs the other (51-62/ pairs). Based on the ideas of Holtfreter (1943) and Steinberg (1964,1978) these results are interpreted to indicate an increase in adhesiveness at the 8-cell stage as well as cytoskeletal mobilization. Following the 8-cell stage there is an increase in adhesiveness of inside cells while the outside cells decrease in adhesiveness. The difference in adhesiveness between inside and outside cells in late morulae is probably central to the divergent differentiation of (inner) ICM and (outer) trophectoderm cell populations.

Gp330 is specifically expressed in outer cells during epithelial differentiation in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (11) ◽  
pp. 3289-3299 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gueth-Hallonet ◽  
A. Santa-Maria ◽  
P. Verroust ◽  
B. Maro
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Extensive Cell ◽  
High Level ◽  
Endocytic Activity

During preimplantation development of the mouse embryo, a layer of outer cells differentiates into a perfect epithelium, the trophectoderm. The divergence between the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass takes place from the 8-cell stage to the 64-cell stage and precedes their commitment at the blastocyst stage. In this work, we have investigated the expression of gp330, a 330 × 10(3) M(r) glycoprotein found in clathrin-coated areas of the plasma membrane of some epithelial cells characterized by a high level of endocytic activity. Our results show that gp330 is first synthesized in 16-cell stage embryos and that its appearance is restricted to outer cells until the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, its expression is repressed in inner cells at a post-transcriptional level, probably through the development of extensive cell-cell contacts.

The effect of prolonged decompaction on the development of the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-261
Author(s):  
M. H. Johnson ◽  
J. Chakraborty ◽  
A. H. Handyside ◽  
K. Willison ◽  
P. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Embryonal Carcinoma Cell ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Embryonal Carcinoma Cell Line ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Cell Embryo ◽  
Relationship Of

A rabbit antiserum to a mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line blocks compaction of cleaving mouseembryos. Cell division is not affected up to the 32-cell stage but intracellular junctions fail to develop. Removal of the antibody at this stage permits compaction to occur and a normal blastocyst develops. Prolonged decompaction beyond the 32-cell embryo results in an increasing proportion of malformed blastocysts in which trophectodermal cells predominate and functional inner cell mass (ICM) cells are reduced or absent. The relationship of compaction to the generation of ICM and trophectoderm lineages in the intact embryo is discussed.

scholarly journals Changes in the distribution of a spectrin-like protein during development of the preimplantation mouse embryo.

1985 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
J S Sobel ◽  
M A Alliegro
Keyword(s):  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Alpha Spectrin ◽  
Avian Erythrocyte ◽  
Cell Cell

The mouse blastocyst expresses a 240,000-mol-wt polypeptide that cross-reacts with antibody to avian erythrocyte alpha-spectrin. Immunofluorescence localization showed striking changes in the distribution of the putative embryonic spectrin during preimplantation and early postimplantation development. There was no detectable spectrin in either the unfertilized or fertilized egg. The first positive reaction was observed in the early 2-cell stage when a bright band of fluorescence delimited the region of cell-cell contact. The blastomeres subsequently developed continuous cortical layers of spectrin and this distribution was maintained throughout the cleavage stages. A significant reduction in fluorescence intensity occurred before implantation in the apical region of the mural trophoblast and the trophoblast outgrowths developed linear arrays of spectrin spots that were oriented in the direction of spreading. In contrast to the alterations that take place in the periphery of the embryo, spectrin was consistently present in the cortical cytoplasm underlying regions of contact between the blastomeres and between cells of the inner cell mass. The results suggest a possible role for spectrin in cell-cell interactions during early development.

BMP signaling plays a role in visceral endoderm differentiation and cavitation in the early mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Coucouvanis ◽  
G.R. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Embryoid Bodies ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dominant Negative Mutant ◽  
Mutant Form ◽  
Visceral Endoderm ◽  
Endoderm Differentiation

At E4.0 the inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst consists of a core of embryonic ectoderm cells surrounded by an outer layer of primitive (extraembryonic) endoderm, which subsequently gives rise to both visceral endoderm and parietal endoderm. Shortly after blastocyst implantation, the solid mass of ectoderm cells is converted by a process known as cavitation into a pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounding a central cavity. We have previously used two cell lines, which form embryoid bodies that do (PSA1) or do not (S2) cavitate, as an in vitro model system for studying the mechanism of cavitation in the early embryo. We provided evidence that cavitation is the result of both programmed cell death and selective cell survival, and that the process depends on signals from visceral endoderm (Coucouvanis, E. and Martin, G. R. (1995) Cell 83, 279–287). Here we show that Bmp2 and Bmp4 are expressed in PSA1 embryoid bodies and embryos at the stages when visceral endoderm differentiation and cavitation are occurring, and that blocking BMP signaling via expression of a transgene encoding a dominant negative mutant form of BMP receptor IB inhibits expression of the visceral endoderm marker, Hnf4, and prevents cavitation in PSA1 embryoid bodies. Furthermore, we show that addition of BMP protein to cultures of S2 embryoid bodies induces expression of Hnf4 and other visceral endoderm markers and also cavitation. Taken together, these data indicate that BMP signaling is both capable of promoting, and required for differentiation of, visceral endoderm and cavitation of embryoid bodies. Based on these and other data, we propose a model for the role of BMP signaling during peri-implantation stages of mouse embryo development.

Alkaline phosphatase activity in the preimplantation mouse embryo

Development ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-89
Author(s):  
Lincoln V. Johnson ◽  
Patricia G. Calarco ◽  
Margaret L. Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Mouse Embryos ◽  
Frozen Sections ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryos ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryo ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Morula Stage

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity has been assayed in frozen sections of preimplantation mouse embryos by an azo-dye cytochemical method. The results indicate that during preimplantation mouse development AP activity is first expressed between the 8- and 16-cell stages and develops in all cells by the late morula stage. During blastocyst formation AP activity is lost or greatly reduced in trophoblast cells while activity is maintained in the inner cell mass.

Preimplantation differentiation in the mouse egg as revealed by microinjection of vital markers

Development ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-479
Author(s):  
I. B. Wilson ◽  
Eleanor Bolton ◽  
Rosemary H. Cuttler
Keyword(s):  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Bilateral Symmetry ◽  
Cortical Region ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse Embryos ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Preimplantation Mouse ◽  
Morula Stage ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Mouse Egg

A microinjection technique has been devised for labelling individual blastomeres of preimplantation mouse embryos with a marker drop of inert silicone fluid placed in the cytoplasm either at the periphery of the egg or at the interface between two blastomeres (i.e. centrally). The following observations were made on blastocysts which developed from injected eggs: (1) All drops derived from peripheral injections (at two-cell to morula stage) were found exclusively in the trophoblast. (2) Drops injected centrally at two- and four-cell stages have been found in both the trophoblast and inner cell mass. (3) Peripheral labelling of one or both members of a pair of eggs (four-cell to morula) fused into a chimaeric blastocyst yielded markers in both trophoblast and inner cell mass. No evidence was found of inherent bilateral symmetry or polarity in the cleaving egg. The results indicate that physico-chemical positional effects determine whether a cell will differentiate into trophoblast or inner cell mass. The results are discussed in the light of current hypotheses relating to early embryonic differentiation in the mammal, and it is suggested that cleavage occurs without spatial disturbance of the cytoplasmic pattern of the egg so that its cortical region is converted directly to the outer cells of the morula and hence to the trophoblast.

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