Implantation in the ferret: Epithelial penetration

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Abstract
Implantation in the ferret occurs during the 24 hours between 12 and 13 days post coitus. The thinned zona pellucida is disrupted irregularly along the lateral aspects of implantation chambers. Some of the trophoblastic cells enlarge and develop into plaques of syncytium. Protoplasmic projections from these syncytial plaques intrude between adjacent uterine luminal epithelial cells to which the syncytium is adhering. Interesting ectoplasmic pads from the syncytial trophoblast indent the uterine epithelial cells prior to adhesion, and there are ectoplasmic regions where trophoblast cell membrane is closely applied to uterine cell membranes at all sites of epithelial penetration. Intrusion of trophoblast between uterine luminal epithelial cells is apparently the major mechanism of epithelial penetration in the ferret.