Detection of maternal esterase in mouse embryonic tissues.

A genetic variant of esterase in mice is used to demonstrate for the first time that an enzyme of maternal origin is taken up intracellularly by two mid-gestation tissues dervied from the embryo: trophoblast and yolk sac (visceral endoderm). Although other alternatives are still possible, it is likely that the esterase is transported from the mother to the trophoblast via the serum. If so, the phenomenon is selective, since at least one other prominent serum esterase is not found in trophoblast or yolk sac cells. The enzyme has not been detected in the embryo proper, even at very late stages of pregnancy. Trophoblast cells-developing from blastocysts implanted under the kidney capsule of a male mouse also appear to have the ability to take up host esterase. Efforts to demonstrate uptake of the enzyme by trophoblast cells in blastocyst cultures have been unsuccessful.