L1: Initiation of pregnancy Flashcards
2 functions of the female reproductive tract
supports gametes
supports pregnancy
2 phases of the female cycle
luteal phase
follicular phase
what dominates the luteal phase
corpus luteum
how long can sperm survive in the female reproductive tract
5 days
how long can an egg survive
24hrs
where is the site of fertilisation
ampullary isthmic junction
what helps the sperm reach its goal
uterine/ oviduct contractions
beating of cilia in fallopian tubes
how many sperm are lost to leakage
99%
what happens to the 1% of sperm that make it to the oviduct
bind to the oviduct epithelia and rest forming a functional sperm reservoir
what can freshly ejaculated sperm not do
fertilise eggs
what is required for sperm to fertilise eggs
capacitation
what do sperm need time away from to undergo capacitation
seminal plasma/ epididymal fluid
2 process of capacitation
hyperactivation
removal of acrosome
what drives the 2 processes of capacitation
calcium
what is hyperactivation
when sperm start swimming
what allows removal of the acrosome
pH/ temperature changes in the reproductive tract change the composition of the acrosome membrane allowing calcium to enter
what is the first barrier of the egg for sperm to get through
cumulus cells
how do sperm get through the hyaluronic acid of the ECM of the cumulus cells
hyaluronidase (from the acrosome)
where is hyaluronidase enzyme released from
acrosome
second barrier of egg to sperm
zona pellucida
what enzyme allows sperm to bind to the zona pellucida
acrosin
what does acrosin facilitate sperm to bind to on the zona pellucida
Gp ZP2/3
what triggers the acrosome reaction to digest zona pellucida
- close proximity to the oocyte
- binding to ZP2/3
how long does it take sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida
5-20 minutes
after penetration of the zona pellucida where do the sperm sit
intermembrane gap between zona pellucida and oocyte membrane
what happens to the sperm in fusion
sperm binds to oocyte membrane and is engulfed into oocyte cytoplasm
what happens to the egg once the sperm has entered
egg becomes activated
what stage of division is the oocyte arrested in before sperm entry
metaphase 2
2 things sperm contributes
DNA
phospholipase C gamma
what is phospholipase C gammas role
starts cascade to elevate calcium
in egg activation how often in calcium released
in 10 minute spikes
what cause the arrested oocyte to move out of metaphase 2
calcium elevations
what does calcium do to enable the oocyte to initiate meiosis
calcium breaks down MPF