Figure 3. Morphology and Gene Expression in Cultured Blastocysts.
(A) Photomicrographs of wild-type, Tip60-heterozygous and Tip60-null blastocysts at time of harvest (ED3.5 embryo) and during subsequent cell culture (days 1–4). Tip60-null blastocysts did not increase in size, and, cells did not hatch from them during the 4-day culture period. The horizontal bar in the upper left panel = 50 µm; all photographs are at the same magnification. (B–D) RT-PCR after 2 and 4 days in culture. No evidence of Tip60 (panel B), GATA4 (panel C) or cyclinD2 (panel D) mRNAs were detected in Tip60-null cells as early as day 2. EB = embryoid body samples (WT) used for positive controls; nt = no template control; unlabeled lanes were empty.