Mouse blastocyst with epiblast (EPI), trophoblast (TE) and primitive endoderm (PE) or hypoblast from Selenka 1883 |
The three cell lineages of the blastocyst are trophoblast, hypoblast (primitive endoderm) and epiblast. The epiblast creates the embryo and contributes extra-embryonic mesoderm to the fetal membranes. An insightful review by Guojun Sheng (OA here) traces epiblast evolution across reptiles/birds, monotremes, marsupials and eutherians.
First he summarizes early development in the mouse as known since Selenka and Sobotta and now understood in terms of gene expression. Some of this translates to early human development (previous post). Yet the behaviour of the epiblast is very different in mammals as diverse as rabbit, pig, cattle and dog. As an example there is loss of the polar trophoblast to expose the epiblast. There are also important differences in gene expression as known from cattle (OA here).
Meroblastic cleavage of the platypus egg From Hughes 1993 (here) |
Embryonic and trophoblastic areas of the marsupial
blastocyst as envisaged by Hartman
|
Serial sections through the blastula of the lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) from Bluntschli 1937 |
Finally, he suggests that the blastula stages described in tenrecs by Bluntschli and elephant shrews by van der Horst (discussed here) may reflect the early eutherian prototype.
Altogether a very good read.
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