Histochemical observations on early implantation in the mouse

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Abstract
Acid phosphatase, polysaccharide complexes and lipids were studied in the uterus and embryo of the mouse from 90 to 120 h post coitum (p.c.). The pattern of acid phosphatase-rich vesicles (ERV) in the uterine epithelium and its manner of degeneration are discussed. At 90 h p.c. there are large ERV in the inner cell mass indicating degenerating cells; these are not detectable at 96 h p.c. A border of lysosomes is prominent in regions of the peripheral trophoblastic cytoplasm adjoining the epithelium at 96 h p.c. and this may be involved in membrane changes which facilitate closer contact and interactions between the embryonic and maternal cells. Discrete aggregates of large ERV are present in the epithelium and trophoblast at sites scattered around the abembryonic region, from 96 to 104 h p.c. From 94 to 100 h p.c. macrophage-like cells can be found in the uterine epithelium. In the later stages of implantation, 110–120 h p.c., the pattern of acid phosphatase-rich vesicles becomes progressively more complicated with the whole of the epithelium around the blastocyst gradually becoming degenerate.