Expression of intercellular junctions during preimplantation development of the human embryo
| Autor: | Robert M.L. Winston, Kate Hardy, Anne E. Warner, David L. Becker |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1996 |
| Předmět: |
Embryology
Embryonic Development Connexin Fertilization in Vitro In Vitro Techniques Biology Cell junction Connexins Multinucleate Pregnancy Genetics medicine Humans Inner cell mass Microscopy Phase-Contrast Blastocyst Molecular Biology Microscopy Confocal Desmoplakin Gap junction Gap Junctions Obstetrics and Gynecology Embryo Desmosomes Cell Biology Immunohistochemistry Molecular biology Cell biology Connexin 26 Cytoskeletal Proteins Intercellular Junctions medicine.anatomical_structure Desmoplakins Reproductive Medicine Connexin 43 embryonic structures biology.protein Female Developmental Biology |
| Zdroj: | Molecular Human Reproduction. 2:621-632 |
| ISSN: | 1460-2407 1360-9947 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/molehr/2.8.621 |
| Popis: | A total of 74 human embryos were stained with gap junction protein specific anti-peptide antibodies an antibodies to the desmosomal protein desmoplakin to reveal the expression pattern of intercellular junctions during preimplantation development. Prior to implantation, the human embryo expresses predominantly connexin (Cx43)-containing gap junctions. Gap junctions were first detected in apposing cell membranes at the 4-cell stage and became increasingly organized as development proceeded. In normal blastocysts, trophectoderm (TE) cells were linked by dense arrays of gap junctions while inner cell mass (ICM) cells were linked by small, punctate gap junctions. Gap junctions containing Cx32 or Cx26 were observed occasionally in the TE of late blastocysts. Desmosomes appeared between outer cells prior to cavitation and were retained in the TE, but not in the ICM. Levels of gap junction protein expression were variable in morphologically normal embryos at the same stage, suggesting that a normal appearance may not be a reliable indicator of future viability. Morphologically normal embryos often possessed multinucleate, apoptotic and decompacting cells. They could show either extensive, disorganized over-expression or reduced expression of gap junction protein. The results fit the view that only embryos destined to survive display an organized pattern of intercellular junctions. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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