Surface coats of the mouse blastocyst and uterus during the preimplantation period

摘要

AbstractA glycoprotein coat is demonstrable on the free surface of both the blastocyst and uterine luminal epithelium of the mouse on day 4 and day 5 of normal pregnancy, and on day 7 of delayed implantation, using concanavalin A‐peroxidase and ruthenium red. The coats are apparently negatively charged, as shown by their binding with colloidal thorium dioxide. The cell coat on uterine epithelium is appreciably thicker than that on the blastocyst. The information currently available is sufficient to suggest that simplistic mechanisms such as change in charge or total thickness cannot be the sole basis of initial adhesion, but that some localized reduction of the uterine surface coat accompanies adhesion. However, considerably more information is necessary concerning the nature of the surface coats before a more comprehensive understanding of the role of adhesion in implantation can be achieve