LM of a stage 2, 8-cell embryo on day 3 in vitro during the initial phase of compaction (compaction 1) called cell-cell contact. Blastomeres become closely opposed to one another and cell junctions begin to form between them.
From: Veeck and Zaninovic´, 2003. Reproduced with permission of the publisher, Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords: blastomere nucleolus, blastomere nucleus, compaction, eight-cell embryo, exterior part of blastomere cell membrane, initial blastomere cell-cell contact, sperm head, subzonal space, zona pellucida
Source: The Virtual Human Embryo.