Cell arrest and cell death in mammalian preimplantation development: lessons from the bovine model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The causes, modes, biological role and prospective significance of cell death in preimplantation development in humans and other mammals are still poorly understood. Early bovine embryos represent a very attractive experimental model for the investigation of this fundamental and important issue.

Methods and findings

To obtain reference data on the temporal and spatial occurrence of cell death in early bovine embryogenesis, three-dimensionally preserved embryos of different ages and stages of development up to hatched blastocysts were examined in toto by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In parallel, transcript abundance profiles for selected apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Our study documents th

SUBMITTER: Leidenfrost S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3141016 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature