Abstract
Interaction of the blastocyst with the endometrium at implantation starts with adhesion of the apical membrane of the trophoblast to the apical membranes of the uterine epithelium (Enders and Schlafke, 1972; Schlafke and Enders, 1979). In the rabbit this event is followed by apical membrane fusion of both partner tissues thus leading to the formation of a mixed symplasm, and by invasion into the endometrium (Enders and Schlafke, 1971). At the same time, widespread fusion of the lateral cell membranes of the uterine epithelial cells starts. This uterine epithelial cell fusion occurs in two overlapping phases, in the antimesometrial portion of the endometrium from 7 days post coitum (7 d p.c.) associated with attachment and invasion of the abembryonic trophoblast (yolk sac placentation), and mesometrially on the endometrium of the placental folds from 8 d p.c. (associated with chorioallantoic placentation). Uterine symplasms formed in this way are found exclusively in the implantation chamber, i.e., in the vicinity of a blastocyst, and are very large, containing hundreds of nuclei.
Published Version
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