Development

Animal
Implantation
As the zygote passes down the oviduct it divides by successive nuclear and cell divisions into a small ball of
cells by a process called cleavage. Cleavage involves cells division without growth in size, because the cells
continued to be retained within the zona pellucida. The cells just get smaller and smaller at this stage. Nuclear
division is by mitosis. The cells formed are called blastomeres and they form a hollow ball of cells whose
central cavity is called the blastocoel. This fills with liquid from the oviduct. The outer layer of blastomeres is
called the trophoblast and this thickens at one point to form a mass of cells called the inner cell mass (ICM).
This stage is called the blastocyst, about 100 cells and is reached about 4-5 days after fertilisation.
When the blastocyst arrives in the uterus the zona pellucida gradually disappears over about two days,
allowing the cells of the trophoblast to make contact with the cells of the endometrium. The term tropho-
means feeding and the trophoblast starts the process of invading the uterus wall and gaining nutrients from the
endometrium. The trophoblast cells multiply in the presence of these nutrients and between the sixth and ninth
days after fertilisation the blastocyst becomes embedded within the endometrium. The process is called
implantation.
The cells of the trophoblast differentiate into an inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer is called
the chorion, and forms the chorionic villi, finger-like processes which grow into the endometrium. The areas of
the endometrium between these villi form interconnecting spaces which give this region of the endometrium a
spongy appearance. Hydrolytic enzymes released by the trophoblast cause the arterial and venous blood vessels
in the endometrium to break down and blood from them fills the spaces/sinuses called lacunae. In the early
stages of development of the blastocyst, exchange of nutrients, oxygen and excretory materials between the
cells of the blastocyst and the maternal blood in the uterus wall occurs through the chorionic villi. Later in
development his function is taken over by the placenta.