The ultrastructure of early implantation in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus)

The ultrastructural morphology of the initial stages of implantation in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) was studied in pregnant monkeys at known time intervals after ovulation. The earliest samples, obtained 13 days after ovulation, displayed both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. The cytotrophoblast was restricted to the blastocoel, whilst syncytiotrophoblast intruded to the endometrial basal lamina. At later stages, days 16 and 19 after ovulation, both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast had extended laterally around the uterus, and the syncytiotrophoblast also extended deeper into the maternal tissues. The mesoderm layer was first discernible at 19 days after ovulation. At 23 days after ovulation the syncytiotrophoblast surrounded the maternal blood vessels entirely. In this study syncytiotrophoblast was not observed to breach the maternal blood vessels, even at 31 days after ovulation. Early cytotrophoblast columns could be seen at 31 days after ovulation. The endothelial cells lining the maternal blood vessels displayed hypertrophy from the earliest stages (day 13) onwards, although a true decidual response was only observed in samples of 23 and 31 days after ovulation.