Properties of Mouse Inner Cell Masses Isolated by Immunosurgery, Exposure to the Calcium Ionophore A23187 or Low Osmolarity

Abstract

Mouse inner cell masses remained intact when exposed to extreme bsmotic stress (distilled water) for short periods, but the trophectoderm was lysed in one-third of blastocysts. However, these inner cell masses were not viable as they could not fluoresce after incubation in fluorescein diacetate nor continue development in vitro. It was concluded that cells of the inner cell mass are not more tolerant of osmotic stresses than those of the trophectoderm.