Normal implantation zone Quiz

Quiz 01

In order that implantation can take its normal course, Quiz

the blastocysts and the uterine mucosa must be able to Quiz 11
interact. These two, independent structures must, therefore,
undergo synchronous changes. The implantation normally
takes place in the superior and posterior walls of the
uterine body (corpus uteri) in the functional layer of the
endometrium during the secretory phase of the cycle.

Fig. 14 - Normal implantation zone Legend

1 Uterine cavity
2 Isthmus of the tube
3 Uterine tube (tuba uterina)
4 Uterine cervix (cervix uteri)

Stages Quiz
Quiz 10

Schematically, three implantation stages can be

distinguished:·

 Adplantation of the blastocyst on the endometrium

 Adhesion of the blastocyst to the endometrium
 Invasion of the trophoblast and embedding

Adplantation of the blastocyst on the uterine mucosa

When the blastocyst Fig. 15 - Hatching Legend
emerges from the pellucid Fig. 15
zone on the 5th day ( 3 ), it The blastocyst
comes into contact with the hatches out of
maternal uterine mucosa in the partially
that it embeds itself in the dissolved zona
endometrium with its pellucida. One
embryonic pole. distinguishes
between the
trophoblast
(the outer cell
mass) and the
embryoblast
1 Pellucid zone (inner cell layer
2 Trophoblast (outer cell with epi- and
3 mass) hypoblasts)
Hypoblast (part of the along with the
4 inner cell blastocyst
5 mass) cavity.
Blastocyst cavity
Epiblast (part of the inner
cell
mass)

The adhesion can occur when beforehand the uterus has

entered its secretory phase (luteinizing phase). This
reception-ready phase of the endometrium lasts 4 days
(20th -23rd day) and is usually termed the "implantation
window". It follows around 6 days after the LH peak and is
characterized by the appearance of small elevations at the
apical pole of the epithelial endometrium cells. One of the
tasks of these elevations consists in the absorption of the
uterine fluid, which brings the blastocyst nearer to the
endometrium and immobilizes it at the same time. In this
stage the blastocyst can still be eliminated by being flushed
out. There is also a hypothesis that the progesterone and
the oestrogen are responsible for an oedema that already
fills the flattened out uterine cavity. This is also supposed to
contribute to the blastocyst being pressed against the
uterine epithelium 4.
 Fig. 16 - Implantation window Legend
Fig. 16
Menstruation
cycle with the
cyclic
alterations of
the
endometrium.
The
"implantation
window" that
A Menstruation corresponds to
B Proliferation the period of
C Secretion maximum
D Implantation window receptivity is
depicted here
(D).

Quiz
Quiz 02

More info
Pellucid zone
During the whole time span from ovulation up to
implantation, the oocyte is enveloped by the pellucid zone,
the role of which changes. Initially it is united with the cells
of the corona radiata during the transport of the oocyte
within the fallopian tube. At the moment of fertilization it
facilitates the acrosomal reaction of the sperm cells. Finally,
after the cortical reaction has taken place, it undergoes
physical and chemical changes. The pellucid zone
possesses no HLA antigen and thus acts as an
immunological barrier in relation to the mother. Another
important role is the prevention of a premature implantation
of the embryo in the tube region.
Adhesion of the blastocyst to the endometrium

After the apposition of the Fig. 17 - Adhesion of the Legend

free blastocyst at the blastocyst
uterine epithelium ( 4 ) Fig. 17
themicrovilli on the Hatching of the
surface of the outermost blastocyst and
trophoblast cells interact adhesion on the
with the epithelial cells of endometrium. One
the uterus. In this stage sees the cells of
the blastocyst can no the
longer be eliminated by syncytiotrophoblast
a simple flushing out. that grow in
The adhesion of the between the cells
blastocyst on the of the uterine
endometrium arises epithelium.
through cell surface
glycoproteins, the
specific mechanisms of
which, though, are not yet
well understood.

Invasion of the trophoblast and embedding

The trophoblast differentiates into two different cell Quiz

masses, shortly before it comes into contact with the Quiz 03
endometrium:
Quiz
 the outer syncytiotrophoblast (ST)
 the inner cytotrophoblast (CT) Quiz 07

The cytotrophoblast, deep inside, consists in an inner

irregular layer of ovoid, single- nucleus cells. This is also
where intensive mitotic activity takes place.

In the periphery the syncytiotrophoblast forms

a syncytium, i.e., a multi-nucleic layer without cell
boundaries that arises from the fusion of cytotrophoblast
cells. The syncytiotrophoblast produces lytic enzymes and
secretes factors that cause apoptosis of the endometrial
epithelial cells. The syncytiotrophoblast also crosses the
basal lamina and penetrates into the stroma that lies below,
eroding the wall of capillaries. With the implantation of the
blastocyst in the endometrium the syncytiotrophoblast
develops quickly and will entirely surround the embryo as
soon as it has completely embedded itself in the
endometrium.

The uterine mucosa reacts to the implantation by the More info

decidual reaction. The syncytiotrophoblast cells phagocytize The decidual
the apoptotic decidual cells of the endometrium and resorb reaction is
the proteins, sugars and lipids that have been formed there. characterized
They also erode the canals of the endometrial glands and by ...
the capillaries of the stroma.

Fig. 18 - Implantation: 6th- Fig. 19 - Implantation: 7th- Legend

7th day 8th day
Fig. 18
Free blastocyst
(following the
dissolution of the
pellucid zone) in
adplantation phase
on the uterine wall
(6th to 7th day).
The trophoblast
cells of the
embryonic pole
differentiate
1 Epithelium of the uterine 5 Epiblast themselves,
2 mucosa 6 Blastocyst cavity multiply, and form
3 Hypoblast the invasive
4 Syncytiotrophoblast syncytiotrophoblast.
Cytotrophoblast The abembryonic
pole consists of
cytotrophoblast
cells.

Fig. 19
Didermic embryonic
disk (hypoblast and
epiblast) after 8
days. The ST
 continues its
invasive, lytic
activity into the
maternal tissue.

Fig. 20 - Implantation: 8th Fig. 21 - Implantation: 9th Legend

day day
Fig. 20, Fig. 21
Complete
implantation of
the embryo into
the
endometrium
and covering of
the
implantation
location by a
fibrin plug.
The amniotic
1 Syncytiotrophoblast (ST) 8 Amnioblasts cavity expands
2 Cytotrophoblast (CT) 9 Fibrin plug and a cellular
3 Epiblast 10 Trophoblast lacunae layer
4 Hypoblast 11 Multiplying hypoblast (amnioblasts)
5 Blastocyst cavity now separates
6 Maternal blood capillary it from the CT.
7 Amniotic cavity The hypoblast
cells also begin
to multiply 5b
. Extracellular
vacuoles
appear in the
ST and join to
form lacunae.

In the middle of the 2nd week extracellular vacuoles

appear in the ST. They join together forming lacunae.
Initially these lacunae are filled with tissue fluids and uterine
secretions. Following the erosion of the maternal capillaries,
their blood fills the lacunae that later develop further into
intervillous spaces. The invasive growth of the ST ceases
in the zona compacta of the endometrium. At around the
13th day theprimitive utero-placental circulatory
system arises.

Fig. 22 - Implantation: 9th- Fig. 23 - Implantation: 10th- Legend

10th day 11th day
Fig. 22, Fig. 23
The destructive
lytic activity of
the ST reaches
the capillaries
of the
endometrium.
The maternal
blood flows into
the lacunae.
The ST
envelops the
1 Hypoblast growing 3 Extraembryonic reticulum maternal
2 ventrally 4 Heuser´s membrane capillaries,
Eroded maternal 5 Amniotic cavity expands its
capillaries 6 Cytotrophoblast lacunae
7 Syncytiotrophoblast network, and
8 Lacunae, filled with blood forms an
arterial inflow
and a venous
outflow system.

At the end of the 2nd week, when implantation has ended, the embryonic bud
consists schematically of two hemispheric cavities that lie on one another: the
amniotic cavity (dorsal) and the umbilical vesicle (ventral).
The floor of the amniotic cavity is formed by the epiblast, and the roof of the
umbilical vesicle by the hypoblast. These two layers, which lie on one another,
form the embryo or the double-layered embryonic disc.