Author

Mary Wallingford

Published on SDB CoRe: Jan 14 2013

Tools & Techniques: Visualizing Genes/ Proteins
Early Embryogenesis: Blastula
Extraembryonic: Extraembryonic Tissues
Organism: Mouse
Stage of Development: Embryo

Object Description

Section of an embryonic day 4 mouse embryo implanting into the uterine wall.  It is immunostained for the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin (red), transcription factor Yin-Yang1 (YY1; green), and DAPI nuclear stain (blue).  The uterine epithelium, delineated by E-cadherin expression, surrounds the mouse blastocyst which is expressing high levels of YY1.  The blastocyst consists of the inner cell mass (which forms the embryo proper) surrounded by the trophoblast which contributes to the placenta.  In this image on the right side of the embryo, the trophoblast cells opposite the inner cell mass, called mural trophectoderm, have begun to invade the uterine epithelium. 

This image was the 2012 Developmental Biology Student Cover Competition winner (Vol. 367, Issue 2).

References

Trask M.C., Tremblay K.D., Mager J. Yin-Yang1 is required for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and regulation of Nodal signaling during mammalian gastrulation. Developmental Biology, 2012, 368:273-282.

Gilbert, S.F. Developmental Biology. 6th edition. Sunderland, MA, Sinauer Associates, 2000. Early Mammalian Development. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10052/.

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