ROLE OF GAP-JUNCTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PREIMPLANTATION MOUSEEMBRYO

We have taken several approaches to study the role of gap junctional c ommunication during preimplantation mouse development. Firstly, the no rmal expression pattern of gap junctions has been characterized using immunostaining in conjunction with laser scanning confocal microscopy. Changes in junctional distribution have been correlated with developm ental events. We have gone on to study development and junctional orga nization in mice which naturally exhibit reduced cell to cell communic ation (DDK syndrome), and in normal mice in which gap junction permeab ility has been artificially manipulated. Furthermore, anti-peptide ant ibodies have been tested for their ability to block gap junction commu nication and for the effects of such a block on subsequent development . Collectively, the results demonstrate that gap junctional communicat ion plays an important role in the maintenance of compaction and the d ifferentiation of an organized epithelium within an embryo, features w hich are vital for preimplantation development to progress successfull y. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.