Expression of Forssman antigen in the post-implantation mouse embryo.

The expression of Forssman antigen on the surface of cells of post-implantation mouse embryos between 5 and 7 1/2 days old and of cells of the gonads from 10 1/2 days has been followed using the monoclonal antiserum M1/22.25. In the early post-implantation embryo a lineage-related distribution is found. The inner cell mass of the blastocyst was previously shown to be Forssman antigen positive and its derivative tissues the epiblast of the 5-day embryo and the primary embryonic endoderm are also positive. The endoderm cells remain positive both over the embryonic and extraembryonic portions of the embryo but the epiblast becomes Forssman antigen negative as it differentiates into embryonic ectoderm. The extraembryonic ectoderm which is derived from the Forssman negative trophectoderm remains negative throughout. The primordial germ cells are Forssman antigen positive from their first appearance in the germinal ridge until day 14 when they become negative but after that time it is other cells not related by direct lineage which become Forssman antigen positive. These are tentatively identified as Sertoli cells precursors as it is the Sertoli cells which are the antigen-positive population in the adult testis.