Morula
Embryology - 16 Jun 2024 Expand to Translate |
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Introduction
(Latin, morula = mulberry) An early stage in post-fertilization development when cells have rapidly mitotically divided to produce a solid mass of cells (12-15 cells) with a "mulberry" appearance. This stage is followed by formation of a cavity in this cellular mass blastocyst stage.
A key event prior to morula formation is "compaction", where the 8 cell embryo undergoes changes in cell morphology and cell-cell adhesion that initiates the formation of this solid ball of cells.
In humans, morula stage of development occurs during the first days in the first week following fertilization and is described as Carnegie stage 2. This stage is followed by formation of a cavity, the blastocoel, which defines formation of the blastocyst.
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In Assisted Reproductive Technology, the morula stage is when one of the earliest prenatal diagnostic test can be carried out, by removing a single cell (blastomere) and carrying out genetic diagnosis on its DNA. |
- Links: Carnegie stage 2 | Morula | Mitosis | Blastocyst | Fertilization | Week 1 | Category:Carnegie Stage 2 | Category:Morula
Some Recent Findings
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More recent papers |
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More? References | Discussion Page | Journal Searches | 2019 References | 2020 References Search term: Morula Development <pubmed limit=5>Morula Development</pubmed> |
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Compaction
Blastomere DivisionAn in vitro study of human blastocyst development[6] showed that those blastomeres that initially divide quickly are more likely to develop to blastocyst stage. A recent study in mice showed that there was no specific orientation of the mitotic spindle during cell division in the 8 to 16 cell stage transition.[5] This suggests no predetermined cleavage pattern (pre-patterned) at the 8 cell stage and only modulated by the extent of cell rounding up during mitosis. In other species, such as the worm C.elegans and ascidians, have specific patterns of spindle orientation from the zygote stage. Model Human Morula DevelopmentThe following figure is from a recent study[4] using video and genetic analysis of in vitro human development during week 1 following fertilization.
Morulas in Other SpeciesMouse Morula
Sea Urchin MorulaSea Urchin early embryo cleavage pattern (SDB Gallery Images)
Bovine MorulaBovine Morula[7]
References
Articles<pubmed>19289087</pubmed> <pubmed>20157423</pubmed> Search PubMedSearch Pubmed: morula development | blastomere development |
Glossary Links
Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 16) Embryology Morula. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Morula
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