Regulation of cellular adhesion molecule expression in murine oocytes, peri-implantation and post-implantation embryos

Abstract

Expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, CD44, CD49d (VLA-4, α chain), and CD11a (LFA-1, α chain) on mouse oocytes, and pre-and peri-implantation stage embryos was examined by quantitative indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. ICAM-1 was most strongly expressed at the oocyte stage, gradually declining almost to undetectable levels by the expanded blastocyst stage. NCAM, also expressed maximally on the oocyte, declined to undetectable levels beyond the morula stage. On the other hand, CD44 declined from highest expression at the oocyte stage to show a second maximum at the compacted 8-cell/morula. This molecule exhibited high expression around contact areas between trophectoderm and zona pellucida during blastocyst hatching. CD49d was highly expressed in the oocyte, remained significantly expressed throughout and after blastocyst hatching was expressed on the polar trophectoderm. Like CD44, CD49d declined to undetectable levels at the blastocyst outgrowth stage. Expression of both VCAM-1 and CD11a was undetectable throughout. The diametrical temporal expression pattern of ICAM-1 and NCAM compared to CD44 and CD49d suggest that dynamic changes in expression of adhesion molecules may be important for interaction of the embryo with the maternal cellular environment as well as for continuing development and survival of the early embryo.

MFGE8 regulates TGF-β-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition in endometrial epithelial cells in vitro

“…In mammalian embryo development, a blastocyst is formed followed by a series of events in vivo, such as hatching from the zona pellucida, implantation and embryonic outgrowth (Lu et al 2002). Here in this study, embryo outgrowth was defined according to the criteria that outgrowth distances reach half of the embryo's diameter with at least five giant trophoblast cells observed at the edge of outgrowing trophoblast cells (Spindle & Pedersen 1973).…”

The effect of glycosaminoglycans on rat gametes in vitro and the associated signal pathway

“…Resumption of meiosis in MII oocytes is controlled by maturation promoting factor protein that acts to regulate MAP kinase (MAPK) via activation of an oocyte exclusive kinase. The active c-mos kinase promotes MAP kinase (MEK) phosphorylation of MAPK and its activation (Lu et al 2002, Josefsberg et al 2003.…”

Distinct roles of ROCK1 and ROCK2 during development of porcine preimplantation embryos

“…These reports suggest that ROCK1 and ROCK2 may play distinct, and sometimes opposing, roles in such cells (Yoneda et al 2005(Yoneda et al , 2007. In mammals, several reports have shown that the compaction process, involving cytoskeletal rearrangement and development of intercellular adhesion, is critical for the development of viable embryos (Lu et al 2002, Kawagishi et al 2004. Rho family signaling is considered to be the principal mechanism whereby oocyte maturation and embryo development are controlled.…”