Mammalian embryonic diapause

Embryonic diapause, in mammals is a condition where pre-implantation blastocysts are maintained in a state of dormancy, often due to environmental cues, until such time as the environment improves. Diapause occurs in over 100 species of mammals in distantly related organisms, such as the skunk, and the wallaby. Much of the work in diapause regulation and physiological studies of the mother and of the developing embryo, have been conducted upon kangaroos. While much of the molecular regulation involved in activating dormant blastocysts has been characterized, little is still known about entry into diapause, and the conditions which enable a blastocyst to remain dormant.

References

• Renfree MB, Shaw B. 2000. Diapause. Annual Review of Physiology 62:353-375. abstract