Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Blastocyst

A blastocyst is the early-stage mammalian embryo formed roughly five to six days after fertilisation, marking the transition from a solid cleavage-stage morula to a fluid-filled, organised structure. It consists of an outer epithelial layer, the trophectoderm, which will give rise to the placenta and extraembryonic …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 6 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 8× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2574-4372 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

A blastocyst is the early-stage mammalian embryo formed roughly five to six days after fertilisation, marking the transition from a solid cleavage-stage morula to a fluid-filled, organised structure. It consists of an outer epithelial layer, the trophectoderm, which will give rise to the placenta and extraembryonic membranes; a fluid-filled cavity, the blastocoel; and a cluster of cells known as the inner cell mass, which forms the embryo proper and is the source of pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Formation of the blastocyst depends on coordinated cell polarisation, compaction, and ion-driven cavitation, and it precedes hatching from the zona pellucida and implantation into the receptive uterine endometrium. Successful implantation requires reciprocal signalling between the embryo and a hormonally primed, decidualised uterus. Because the inner cell mass yields cells capable of differentiating into all somatic lineages, the blastocyst is central to stem cell biology, assisted reproduction, and developmental research, where oocyte quality, in-vitro maturation, and embryo culture conditions strongly influence outcomes. The stage also informs ethical and interdisciplinary debate over the derivation and use of embryonic stem cells, as well as studies of ovarian function, uterine receptivity, and disease modelling that depend on early embryonic development.

Research published in this journal

6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 6 articles above have been cited 8 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Blastocyst, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Evolving Stem Cell Research (ISSN 2574-4372).

Journal editorial board
Takafumi Yokota · Japan Chiara Raggi · Italy Morikuni Tobita · Japan

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.