Summary
In rat pre-implantation embryos, we compared the polarization of cytoplasmic organelles with cell membrane regionalization as revealed by the cytochemical demonstration of 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase. The polarization is shown at the eight-cell stage by columns of organelles extending from the nuclei to the embryo periphery. No consistent segregation of cytoplasmic components was recognized prior to the eight-cell stage. As to regionalization, both enzyme activities were demonstrated, from the late four-cell stage onwards on the cell surface between blastomeres of early and late morulae, while the external surface of the embryo lacked these activities. In early blastocysts, these enzyme activities were lost on the inner surface of the blastocyst cavity and in late blastocysts; 5′-nucleotidase activity appeared on the external surface of the embryonal trophoplast and extended to the abembryonal pole. From these observations we conclude that cell membrane regionalization precedes the polarization of the cytoplasm; however, this temporal relationship does not necessarily imply a causal relationship, since both phenomena may be independent expressions of an underlying morphonetic process.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Austin CR, Bishop MWH (1959) Differential fluorescence in living rat eggs treated with acridine orange. Exp Cell Res 17:35–43
Handyside AH (1980) Distribution of antibody and lectin binding sites on dissociated blastomeres from mouse morulae: evidence for polarization at compaction. J Embryol Exp Morphol 60:99–116
Ishiyama V, Izquierdo L (1977) The onset of phosphatase activity in early mammalian embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 42:304–308
Izquierdo L (1955) Fixation des oeufs de rat colorés vitalement par le bleu de toluidine Technique et observations cytologiques. Arch Biol [Liège] 66:403–438
Izquierdo L (1977) Cleavage and differentiation. In: Johnson MH (ed) Development in mammals, vol 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 99–118
Izquierdo L, Ebensperger C (1982) Cell membrane regions in early mouse embryos as demonstrated by 5′-nucleotidase activity. J Embryol Exp Morphol 69:115–126
Izquierdo L, Marticorena P (1975) Alkaline phosphatase in preimplantation mouse embryo. Exp Cell Res 92:399–402
Izquierdo L, Vial J (1962) Electron microscope observation on the early development of the rat. Z Zellforsch 56:157–179
Izquierdo L, López T, Marticorena P (1980) Cell membrane regions in preimplantation mouse embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 59:89–102
Johnson MH (1981) Membrane events associated with the generation of a blastocyst. Int Rev Cytol Suppl 12:1–37
Lehtonen E, Badley RA (1980) Localization of cytoskeletal proteins in preimplantation mouse embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 55:211–225
Mayahara H, Hirano H, Saito T, Ogawa K (1967) The new lead citrate method for the ultracytochemical demonstration of activity of non-specific alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase. Histochemie 11:88–96
Mizuhira V, Futaesaku Y (1972) Nex fixation for biological membranes using tannic acid. Acta Histochem Cytochem 5:233–235
Pratt HPM, Ziomeck CA, Reeve WJD, Johnson MH (1982) Compaction of the mouse embryo: an analysis of its components. J Embryol Exp Morphol 70:113–132
Reeve WJD (1981) Cytoplasmic polarity develops at compaction in rat and mouse embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 62:351–367
Schlafke S, Enders AC (1967) Cytological changes during cleavage and blastocyst formation in the rat. J Anat 102:13–32
Sobel JS (1983) Localization of myosin in the preimplantation mouse embryo. Dev Biol 95:227–231
Uusitalo R, Karnovsky M (1977) Surface localization of 5′-nucleotidase on the mouse lymphocytes. J Histochem Cytochem 25:87–96
Van Blerkom, J, Manes C (1977) The molecular biology of th preimplantation embryo. In: Sherman MH (ed) Concepts in mammalian embryogenesis. M.I.T. Press, Cambridge Mass, 37–94
Van Deurs B (1975) The use of a tannic acid-glutaraldehide fixative to visualize gap and tight junctions. J Ultrastruct Res 50:185–192
Ziomeck CA, Johnson MH (1981) Properties of polar and apolar cells from the 16-cell mouse morulae. Wilhelm Roux's Arch 190:287–296
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lois, P., Izquierdo, L. Cell membrane regionalization and cytoplasm polarization in the rat early embryo. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 193, 205–210 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260340
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260340