Accumulation of RNA in blastocysts during embryonic diapause and the periimplantation period in the western spotted skunk.
The in vivo incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA was studied in delayed implanting and activated blastocysts obtained from 33 western spotted skunks. 3H-uridine was incorporated into RNA by all blastocysts; however, significantly more label was incorporated as blastocyst diameter increased. Activated blastocysts with diameters of 1.6 mm or greater on average incorporated 65 times more 3H-precursor in 5 hr than diapausing blastocysts with diameters of 1.1 mm or less. Polyadenylated RNA was likewise synthesized by delayed implanting and activated skunk blastocysts; however, the proportion of polyadenylated RNA synthesized by the former was greater than in the latter (43.9% vs. 27.5%). Our data suggest that the transition from embryonic diapause to fully activated blastocysts first occurs gradually for several days before entering a 1-2-day period of rapid development characterized by an abrupt increase in RNA accumulation.
R A
RA
Mead
A W
AW
Rourke
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002335:Carnivora / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014316:Tritium; D014529:Uridine / Q000378:metabolism
D014316:Tritium; D012313:RNA; D014529:Uridine