Differentiation of ICM cells into trophectoderm.

It has been established previously that when inserted in the blastocyst E Ca 247 preferentially differentiates into trophectoderm in vitro. If the concept that tumors are caricatures of the process of tissue renewal is correct, then some cells from the inner cell mass (ICM), the normal counterpart of embryonal carcinoma, should be able to differentiate into trophectoderm. This has been a controversial issue. Four experiments are now reported that support the idea that ICM can differentiate into trophectoderm: 1) ICM from early blastocysts after classical immunosurgery made blastocysts in vitro; 2) ICM obtained from early blastocysts by immunosurgery using antigens other than histocompatibility ones made blastocysts in vitro; 3) ICM from early blastocysts, in which the trophectodermal cells had been labeled, contained no labeled cells following immunosurgery; and 4) In reconstruction experiments, polar and mural trophectodermal cells attached to ICM from late blastocysts failed to multiply and make blastocysts when cultured. It is concluded that like the embryonal carcinoma some ICM cells of early blastocysts have the potential to make trophectoderm. This fact is consistent with the concept that tumors are caricatures of the process of tissue renewal; and establishes E Ca 247 as a good model for study of trophectodermal differentiation.