Localization of myosin in the preimplantation mouse embryo.
Myosin was localized in cytoskeletal preparations of preimplantation mouse embryos using indirect immunofluorescent techniques. Blastomeres of 2- and 4-cell embryos exhibited a continuous band of cortical myosin in their apical borders while no cortical myosin was detectable in regions of cell apposition. In 8-cell, 16-cell, and advanced morula-stage embryos the outer group of cells was also characterized by a continuous apical band of cortical myosin, whereas the inner group of apposed cells usually showed no detectable cortical myosin. The possible significance of these observations is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D009218:Myosins