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Monday, 27 September 2004 |
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Here are phase contrast microscope photos of mammalian compaction
Uncompacted Embryo
Compacted Embryo
The following diagram shows the process of compaction.
- At the 8 cell stage the human embryo undergoes a process called compaction.
- It results from cells adhering together more tightly
- The embryo becomes more compact, but the cells still remain separate from each other
- The cell adhesion protein, E-cadherin appears at the time of compaction and causes the cells to adhere together more tightly that previously.
Cadherin & Compaction
As demonstrated by the following experimental results, the appearance of cadherin has been detected at the surfaces of cells of compacted embyros using immunofluorescence microcroscopy on cells stained with anti-cadherin antibodies (green staining in top figure). If the cells are treated with anti-cadherin prior to compaction, they do not undergo compaction revealing the importance of cadherin in the process.
This information was provided by Professor Danton H. O'Day - Univerisity of Toronto at Mississauga - Canada. Unless otherwise stated the information and graphics that are presented within this embryology section are the sole property of Danton H. O'Day, copyright 1998(c), 1999(c), 2000(c), 2001(c), 2002(c).
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Embryology 
