Abstract
The first differentiation event in mammalian development is the generation of the outer trophectoderm epithelium of the blastocyst, which is responsible for blastocoel cavity formation and for vectorial transport between the maternal environment and the embryo interior where the inner cell mass (ICM) resides. Blastomeres within the trophectoderm lineage interact via four types of epithelial intercellular junctions: the E-cadherin/catenin (or adherens junction) system, gap junctions, tight junctions (or zonula occludens), and desmosomes. These membrane complexes collectively contribute to the integrity, signaling activity, polarized functioning, and stability of the developing epithelium, therefore, they are crucial elements in blastocyst morphogenesis and viability. Moreover, particularly in the mouse model, analysis of the mechanisms of junction formation and activation, commonly regulated by the pattern of cell interactions provides insight into the timing and coordination of epithelial differentiation.
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Fleming, T.P. et al. (2001). Cell Junctions and Cell Interactions in Animal and Human Blastocyst Development. In: Gardner, D.K., Lane, M. (eds) ART and the Human Blastocyst. Proceedings in the Serono Symposia USA Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0149-3_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0149-3_8
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