Patterning is initiated before cleavage in the mouse

Once experimental embryological studies revealed the striking ability of mammals to regulate their early development, the notion that pattern-formation might depend on information already present in the egg before cleavage was generally regarded as untenable. Mammals were therefore assumed to differ from almost all other animals in the way in which their embryonic patterning was set up. This view was justified by the profound way in which their early development is modified to meet the requirements of viviparity. However, it ignored various findings showing that exposure of gametes and very early conceptuses to altered conditions could perturb organisation of the fetus. Recent studies that place particular emphasis on non-invasive approaches have revealed hitherto overlooked regularities in early mouse development. They clearly show that specification of embryonic axes normally begins before cleavage in this species. Moreover, the relevant patterning processes seem to depend on intrinsic organisation of the egg rather than, as claimed recently, the site of entry of the fertilizing sperm. These new findings are of interest for two reasons. First, from an evolutionary perspective, it means that mammals retain common features with other animals in how their early development is controlled. Second, it raises the practical question whether the increasing use of in vitro manipulation of gametes and zygotes for assisting human reproduction carries a risk of perturbing development.