Electron microscope observations on preimplantation mouse embryos cultured with LiCl

We have recently shown that LiCl in the culture medium retards cleavage of mouse preimplantation embryos without delaying their blastulation and causes the formation of blastocysts with few large cells and a reduced or absent inner cell mass (Izquierdo and Becker 1982). In this study we compare the ultrastructure of major cellular organelles of Li+-treated and control embryos. No subcellular alterations were found that correlate with the altered morphology of the blastocysts. On the basis of these results we submit that the malformation of blastocysts developed in a Li+-containing medium is the morphogenetic consequence of a retardation of cleavage coupled with a normal timing in the establishment of zonular tight junctions around the peripheral cells of the morula.