BMP signaling is required for cell cleavage in preimplantation-mouse embryos

• Published in: Developmental biology Vol. 397; no. 1; pp. 45 - 55
• Main Authors: Reyes de Mochel, Nabora Soledad, Luong, Mui, Chiang, Michael, Javier, Anna L., Luu, Elizabeth, Toshihiko, Fujimori, MacGregor, Grant R., Cinquin, Olivier, Cho, Ken W.Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Blastocyst - physiology; BMP; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell cleavage; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Embryonic Development - genetics; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes, Dominant; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Morula; Phosphorylation; Preimplantation; Signal Transduction; Smad1; Smad1 Protein - physiology; Smad5 Protein - physiology; Smad8 Protein - physiology; Time Factors; Smad1; Cell division; Preimplantation; BMP; Morula; Cell cleavage
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.10.001

The mechanisms regulating cell division during development of the mouse pre-implantation embryo are poorly understood. We have investigated whether bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is involved in controlling cell cycle during mouse pre-implantation development. We mapped and quantitated the dynamic activities of BMP signaling through high-resolution immunofluorescence imaging combined with a 3D segmentation method. Immunostaining for phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 shows that BMP signaling is activated in mouse embryos as early as the 4-cell stage, and becomes spatially restricted by late blastocyst stage. Perturbation of BMP signaling in preimplantation mouse embryos, whether by treatment with a small molecule inhibitor, with Noggin protein, or by overexpression of a dominant-negative BMP receptor, indicates that BMPs regulate cell cleavage up to the morula stage. These results indicate that BMP signaling is active during mouse pre-implantation development and is required for cell cleavage in preimplantation mouse embryos.
[Display omitted]
•Control of cell division during mouse preimplantation development is poorly defined.•BMP signaling is active during mouse preimplantation development.•BMP signaling is required for cell cleavage in the preimplantation mouse embryo.