A scanning electron microscope study of the hatching of bovine blastocysts in vitro

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Blastocysts were recovered from cows 7-10 days after estrus and cultured. The zona pellucida has a spongy fibrous structure. Hatching began about 24 h after culture, through a relatively small hole out of which the blastocyst appears to excape by its own activity. Later the zona split, and the 2 edges of the slit surround part of the blastocyst. The emerging cells were large or small blastomeres which were generally covered by a dense mass of microvilli.