Junctional Complexes in the Early Mammalian Embryo

Abstract excerpt

Preimplantation embryos generate intercellular junctions during differentiation of the trophectoderm epithelium and the formation of the blastocyst. These membrane complexes comprise gap junctions, adherens junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes, each performing fundamental roles in cellular communication, adhesion, and differentiation. The mouse embryo has been used as a model for the biogenesis of cell...