Fertilization Flashcards

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1
Q

__________ is the process where male and female gametes (sperm and egg) unite, typically occurring in the _________, which initiates the development of a new organism.

A

Fertilization; uterine tube

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2
Q

Purpose of fertilization (2)

A
  • perpetuates the species (reproduction)
  • determines the sex of the organism
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3
Q

Functions of fertilization (2)

A
  • genetic transmission: (recombination of parents genes, restoring the diploid chromosome number)
  • activation of egg development
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4
Q

Main Events During Fertilization (4)

A
  1. Contact and Recognition between sperm and egg.
  2. Sperm Entry Regulation
  3. Fusion of Genetic Material (Sperm and egg)
  4. Activation of the Egg Metabolism (to start development)
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5
Q

is the core structure of the sperm tail and contains ______ and _______

A

Axoneme
- tubulin and dynein

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6
Q

ATPase causing flagellar bending

A

Dynein

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7
Q

Major Components of Sperm (4)

  1. Contains hydrolytic enzymes crucial for penetrating the egg.
  2. Pronucleus
  3. where ATP/Mitochondria is found
  4. where Axoneme can be found
A
  1. Acrosome
  2. Cell body
  3. Neck: ATP/Mitochondria
  4. Tail
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8
Q

Characteristics of __________ syndrome - a genetic order that affects the cilia (4)
- Additional Investigations (2)

A

Kartagener’s syndrome

  • Bronchiectasis
  • Chronic Sinusitis
  • Situs Inversus Totalis
  • infertility (supports the diagnosis)

Additional Investigations
- Moderate airway obstruction
- Respiratory failure Type 1 (Hypoxia without hypercapnia)

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9
Q

have a 50 percent chance of having the heart on the right side of the body: This is known as dextrocardia and is due to the immotile cilia in the center of the embryo which affects the positioning of the heart.

A

Kartagener Triad

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10
Q

Modification of a Germ Cell to Form a Mammalian Sperm

The _____________ forms the acrosomal vesicle and granule, which contains enzymes important for fertilization.

The ______begin to migrate to one end of the cell, initiating flagellum formation.

A

Golgi apparatus

centrioles

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11
Q

All necessary materials of egg cells (5)

  1. yolk
  2. Synthesize proteins after fertilization.
  3. Codes for initial protein needs of the embryo.
  4. direct differentiation and development.
  5. Includes chemicals for UV filters, DNA repair enzymes and antibodies.
A
  1. Nutritive proteins
  2. Ribosomes and tRNA
  3. mRNA
  4. Morphogenic Factors
  5. Protective Elements
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12
Q

Examples of Morphogenetic factors found in an Egg Cell which area localized regionally

A

transcription factors, paracrine factors

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13
Q

Protective chemicals found in an Egg Cell (3)

A
  • UV filters
  • DNA repair enzymes
  • antibodies
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14
Q

Sea Urchin Egg

Analogous to the mammalian zona pellucida, this is an extracellular matrix that forms a “fibrous” mat around the egg, playing a crucial role in sperm-egg recognition.

A

Vitelline Envelope

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15
Q

Sea Urchin Egg

Resides outside the vitelline envelope in some species; it attracts and activates sperm, aiding in the capacitation process.

A

Egg Jelly / Jelly Layer

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16
Q

Sea Urchin Egg

Located just inside the plasma membrane, these granules release enzymes that modify the vitelline envelope upon fertilization to prevent polyspermy.

A

Cortical Granules

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17
Q

Sea Urchin Egg

One sperm adheres to the this part then the egg releases chemicals that drive the other sperms away from the egg and forms a fertilization barrier that cannot be penetrated.

A

Plasma Membrane

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18
Q

The mature follicle, or ________, is the stage at which the oocyte is fully mature and capable of being ovulated and potentially fertilized.

A

Graafian follicle

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19
Q

Components of the Mature Follicle

A glycoprotein layer surrounding the oocyte, crucial for sperm binding and activation during fertilization.

A

Zona Pellucida

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20
Q

Components of the Mature Follicle

Surround the oocyte and are involved in its urishment and the production of sex steroids.

A

Granulosa Cells

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21
Q

Components of the Mature Follicle

A cluster of cells that anchors the oocyte to the follicle wall.
and activation during fertilization.

A

Cumulus Oophorus

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22
Q

Recognition of egg and sperm (5)

A
  1. Chemoattraction: Sperm are attracted by soluble molecules secreted by the egg.
  2. Exocytosis: Of the acrosomal vesicle to release enzymes.
  3. Binding: Of the sperm to the egg’s extracellular envelope.
  4. Passage: Of the sperm through this envelope.
  5. Fusion: Of egg and sperm cell membranes.
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23
Q

How can sperm and eggs meet in such a dilute concentration? How can sperm be prevented from attempting to fertilize eggs of other species?

A
  1. Species-Specific Sperm Attraction.
  2. Species-Specific Sperm Activation.
24
Q

sperm are attracted towards eggs of their species; following a gradient of chemical secreted by the egg

A

Chemotaxis

25
Q

Oocytes control the ______________ they attract and the _____ at which they attract them

A

type of sperm
time

26
Q

__________ (cnidarian)

  • regulates taxis (movement) and timing of sperm
  • prior to 2nd meiotic division = ________
  • after 2nd meiotic division = _________
A

Orthopyxis caliculata

no chemotaxis
chemotaxis

27
Q

sea urchin sperms are immotile at ______ pH and motile in ______ pH due to ________

A

7.2 pH (in gonad)
7.6 pH (sea water)
due to the activation of dynein ATPase

28
Q

The ability to move does not provide the sperm with directions.

direction is guided by egg-derived peptides called ______________

A

sperm-activating peptides (SAPs)

29
Q

2 examples of sperm-activating peptides (SAPs):

A

resact - Arbacia punctulata
speract - Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

30
Q

Chemotaxis in Sea Urchin

  1. Resact is released by the egg and diffuses through the surrounding water. Sperm cells have receptors for resact on their membrane called ________________.
  2. When resact binds to RGC, it activates the receptor. This activation converts GTP (guanosine triphosphate) into ___________________.
  3. The cGMP acts as a secondary messenger inside the sperm cell. It opens calcium (Ca²⁺) channels in the sperm cell membrane.
  4. The influx of Ca²⁺ into the sperm cell increases its intracellular concentration. The ___________ levels stimulate the sperm to swim towards the egg.
A
  1. Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase (RGC)
  2. cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate)
  3. elevated Ca²⁺
31
Q

A single resact molecule can guide sperm towards the egg by creating a concentration gradient. The sperm swim up this gradient.

resact meaning, and what are the two things it enhances?

A

respiration activating

  • enhancing sperm motility and mitochondrial respiration
32
Q

the interaction of sperm and egg jelly

and has two components: (2)

A

The Acrosome reaction

  • exocytosis - release of acrosomal contents and proteolytic enzymes
  • Extension of acrosomal filament (ACTIN)
33
Q

In sea urchin, the acrosome reaction is _______-mediated and is triggered or intiated by ________ (sulfated polysaccharides) in the egg jelly.

A

calcium-mediated
fucose sulfate

34
Q

The acrosome membrane begins to break down, and globular actin starts to ___________.

A

polymerize

35
Q

The egg of sea urchin has receptor present in vitelline membrane called ________.

A

EBR1 (EBR1 is ligand specific)

36
Q

chemoattractant released by egg of sea urchin in water

A

Resact protein

37
Q

Acrosome has _________ which is going to act as a ligand for EBR1 in sea urchins.

A

bindin protein

38
Q

Two blocks to polyspermy (2)

A

fast and slow block

39
Q

An African-American embryologist that discovered the two blocks of polyspermy in the early 1900s.

A

Ernest Everett Just

40
Q

_____________
- immediate causes the egg membrane resting potential rise,

It _________ the egg membrane for how long?

At what resting potential can sperm fuse with the egg membrane?

A

Fast block to polyspermy
- depolarization of the egg membrane
- 1-3 sec
- 70mV

41
Q

Slow block to polyspermy or __________

A

cortical granule reaction

42
Q

Slow block

  • becomes active about a minute after the first successful fusion
  • cortical granules (15,000) release the following substances: (4)
A

Protease
Mucopolysaccharides
Peroxidase enzymes
Hyaline

43
Q

is released by cortical granules that disconnect vitelline membrane from egg surface; cuts bindin receptors and any sperm attached to them.

A

Protease

44
Q

are released by cortical granules that hydrate space by expanding vitelline envelope (2)

A

Mucopolysaccharides and Peroxidase enzymes

45
Q

is released by cortical granules that forms a coating around the egg; supports blastomeres at cleavage

A

Hyaline

46
Q

The roles of _______________ in releasing calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum and the initiation of development.

  • ________________ activates PLC.
  • ______ cleaves PIP2
  • ________ produces IP3 and DAG
  • _________ binds to IP3 receptor.
  • then activates Ca+ channel from ______to ________.
A

inositol phosphates

  • Tyrosine kinase (Src)
  • Phospholipase C (PLC)
  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)
  • Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)
  • ER to cytoplasm
47
Q

The translocation of the sperm from the vagina to the oviduct involves several processes that work at different times and places. (3)

A

Sperm Motility
Uterine Muscle contractions
Sperm rheotaxis

48
Q

form of taxis seen in many aquatic organisms like fish, whereby they will (generally) turn to face into an incoming current.

A

Sperm rheotaxis

49
Q

Once in the oviduct, sperm exhibit increased motility (____________) near the oocyte.

Sperm may receive directional cues from __________ between the regions of the oviduct and ________ derived from the oocyte or cumulus.

A

hyperactivity
temperature gradients and chemical cues

50
Q
  • A process involving physiological changes that sperm undergo after ejaculation to become capable of fertilizing the egg.
  • Occurs in the female reproductive tract via _____________
  • vary by species.
A

Sperm capacitation
- via uterine muscle contraction

51
Q

TIMING

  • Fertilizing sperm can take up to _______ to reach the ampulla.
  • Capacitation is a ___________; sperm can become incapacitated after a period
A

6 days
transient event

52
Q

MOLECULAR EVENTS OF CAPACITATION (2)
1. Sperm cell membrane altered by the removal of _______ with the help of _______ in female reproductive tract.
2. _________ and _________ on surface are lost during capacitation

A
  1. Lipid Changes - cholesterol by albumin
  2. Protein Changes - Proteins and carbohydrate
53
Q

What happens in the vicinity of the Oocyte (3)

A

Hyperactivation
Thermotaxis
Chemotaxis

54
Q

Sperm of certain mammals become hyperactivated as they move from the uterus to the ________.

This hyperactivation is accompanied by the enzyme _________ on the sperm cell membrane, which helps the sperm digest a path through the extracellular matrix of the cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte.

A

oviduct
hyaluronidase enzyme

55
Q

Sperm can sense a thermal gradient of about _______ between the isthmus of the oviduct and the warmer ampullary region.

A

2°C

56
Q

Only fertilizable follicles exhibit _______ activity.

A

chemotactic activity

57
Q

The interaction between sperm surface proteins (such as _______ and _________) and the _________of the zona pellucida is essential for sperm to penetrate and fertilize the oocyte.

A

SED1 (Sperm Surface Protein) and GalT (Galactosyltransferase)

glycoproteins