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Blastocyst Culture

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Placenta and Trophoblast

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine™ ((MIMM,volume 121))

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Abstract

Experimental models of blastocyst development based on in vitro culture have played a prominent role in advancing our understanding of peri-implantation development, a process that is relatively inaccessible in vivo. Blastocyst culture provides a robust approach for examining embryonic interactions with the microenvironment under highly controlled conditions. Major events that occur in utero can be followed in vitro, including blastocyst expansion, hatching, and adhesion to extracellular matrices. This chapter will describe a method for obtaining and culturing mouse blastocysts. Morphological changes that occur during blastocyst culture will be discussed and related to the corresponding development in utero. Finally, quantitative assays will be detailed for monitoring peri-implanatation development of the trophoblast in vitro.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI

    D. Randall Armant

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  1. D. Randall Armant
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Maternal-Fetal Biology Division of Cancer and Developmental Biology Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

    Michael J. Soares

  2. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

    Joan S. Hunt (University Distinguished Professor, Vice Chancellor for Research) (University Distinguished Professor, Vice Chancellor for Research)

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc.

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Armant, D.R. (2006). Blastocyst Culture. In: Soares, M.J., Hunt, J.S. (eds) Placenta and Trophoblast. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 121. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-983-4:033

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-983-4:033

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-404-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-983-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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