This paper describes the development in culture of inner cell masses isolated immunosurgically from C3H/He mouse blastocysts immediately after collection between 3 ·5 and 4 ·0 days p.c. By 24 –48 h most of the inner cell masses isolated from half-expanded blastocysts, and about 50 % of those from expanded blastocysts, regenerate an outer layer of trophecto-derm-like cells and so resemble mini-blastocysts. With further in vitro culture these structures attach to the substratum and give rise to trophoblast-like giant cells, together with clusters of parietal endoderm cells or inner cell masses surrounded by visceral endoderm.

Many of the inner cell masses from the remaining expanded blastocysts develop into floating structures with an outer layer of endoderm cells, and by 7 days consist of a large fluid filled cyst surrounding a collapsed vesicle of epithelial cells. Mesodermal cells line the cysts and form numerous blood islands. When mechanically disrupted, and grown as attached sheets of cells, these cystic structures give rise to patches of trophoblast-like giant cells similar to those described in the previous paper.

These results suggest that the inner cell mass of normal mouse blastocysts contains cells which are capable of giving rise to trophoblast in culture.