Reichert’s membrane

The network structure has been observed by electron microscopy in Reichert s membrane following treatment of tissue sections with plasmin (Inoue et al., 1983). This enzyme removes a major portion of the 3- to 8-nm-thick cords that constitute the major element in the basement membrane, leaving behind a network of fine filaments 1.5 to 2 nm in diameter. Presumably, the cords have a framework consisting of one or more collagen IV filaments that are coated with laminin and with other basement membrane components. 

Chondroitin sulfate was identified in embryonic basement membrane on the basis of studies showing the susceptibility of sulfate-labeled material to chondroitinase and a reaction with monoclonal antibodies (Couchman et al., 1984 Paulsson et al., 1985b). Similarly, Reichert s membrane, endothelial L2, PYS cells, EHS tumor cells, and isolated glomeruli produce variable amounts of these proteoglycan (Oohira et al., 1983 Stow et al., 1983 Oldberg et al., 1981 Tyree et al., 1984 Hassell et al., 1980). The molecule produced by L2 cells (Mr 40K) contains a small protein core with a unique amino acid sequence (Bourdon et al., 1985). It appears that in such systems, little of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan is deposited in the matrix. 

Fig. 3. The decidua and thin Reichert s membrane overlying the El 1 yolk sac are trimmed back level with the placenta.

Next, open Reichert s membrane although this is thin and transparent, it is mostly overlain with a layer of trophoblast and blood cells, and it may be necessary to pick through this layer before rupturing Reichert s membrane, after which removal is straightforward, trimming it up to, but not beyond, the placental border (Fig. 8). 

Fig. 8. The Reichert s membrane of the E9 embryo is opened using watchmaker s forceps, and the surplus is trimmed to the border of the placenta.

Fig. 12. Reichert s membrane is opened with finely ground watchmaker s forceps.

Kim, J.W., Wieckowski, E., Taylor, D.D., Reichert, T.E., Watkins, S. and Whiteside, TL. (2005) Fas ligand-positive membranous vesicles isolated from sera of patients with oral cancer induce apoptosis of activated T lymphocytes. Clin. Cancer Res. 11, 1010-1020. 

Reichert, J., Grasnick, D., Afonin, S., et al. (2007) A critical evaluation of the conformational requirements of fusogenic peptides in membranes. European Biophysics Journal with Biophysics Letters, 36, 405 413. 

Bornhovd, C., Vogel, F., Neupert, W. and Reichert, A.S., Mitochondrial membrane potential is dependent on the oligomeric state of FI FO-ATP synthase supracomplexes, J Biol Chem 281(2006)13990-13998. 

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