Fertilization and Implantation Flashcards
Both the sperm and the oocyte must travel to where for fertilization?
Ampulla of oviduct
What must happen in order to expose binding sites of the sperm for the ooctye’s zona pellucida?
Sperm Capacitation
Epididymal sperm’s plasma membrane is coated with what?
Many surface molcules/proteins
The sperm that is then ejaculated becomes coated with?
Seminal plasma
Describe seminal plasma
Seminal plasma proteins coat the surface molecules on the sperm that is ejaculated
Once the ejaculated sperm reaches the female tract, then what occurs?
Capacitation
Describe capacitation
The seminal plasma coatings and sperm surface molecules are REMOVED to expose portions of the sperm that can bind with the oocyte’s zona pellucida
Incapacitated sperm (have yet to undergo capacitation) can bind to?
Epithelial cells in the oviductal isthmus
What does the binding of incapacitated sperm to the isthmus do?
Extends the sperm lifespan
INCREASES the probability that the sperm will be in the oviduct when the egg is ovulated!
Once incapacitated sperm are capacitated what happens?
They are unbound from the isthmus
What creates a hyperactive sperm?
Sperm capacitation + Chemical signals from oocyte
Hyperactivation of sperm results in what physical change?
A change in flagella motion from wave-like to whip-like
What 3 things does hyperactivation of sperm help with?
- Increases sperm mobility
- Detaches sperm from the epithelium
- Helps propel the sperm through the outer layers of the egg to reach the plasma membrane
What 3 barriers must be breached during fertilization?
- Expanded cumulus (corona radiata)
- Zona pellucida
- Oocyte plasma membrane
What is the cumulus cell matrix of the oocyte made of?
Hyaluronic acid
What does the sperm use to digest the cumulus cell matrix of hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronidase
The zona pellucida of the oocyte contains glycoproteins. Which one does the sperm have a receptor for?
ZP3
Once the sperm binds ZP3 on the oocyte, what happens next?
Acrosome reaction
Describe the acrosome reaction
- The sperm’s plasma membrane fuses with its acrosomal membrane
- This causes release of acrosomal enzymes
- These enzymes digest the zona pellucida locally
- The sperm can then push forward toward the plasma membrane of the oocyte
What protein does the sperm possess to bind to the oocyte plasma membrane?
Izumo protein of the sperm binds to the Izumo receptor on the oocyte plasma membrane
Once the sperm Izumo protein binds to its receptor on the oocyte, then what happens?
The sperm enters the egg